TRAI asks telecom operators to test quality of data services

To ensure that mobile operators meet quality of service benchmark for wireless data, telecom regulator Trai on Tuesday asked them to put in place a test set-up comprising of servers and test probes covering their entire service area for different data services.

"Trai had mandated every cellular mobile service provider to set up a test set up comprising of servers and test probes to cover the entire geographical area of coverage of different data services in the licenced area," Trai said in 'The Standards of Quality of Service for Wireless Data Services Regulations, 2012' released on Tuesday.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said mobile operators are required to meet quality of service benchmarks in respect of parameters such as activation of data services, successful data transmission download or upload attempts from a test server, minimum download speed from a test server covering all tariff plans and data drop rate.

"It has also been mandated that service providers have to publish at its website, the details of all data services offered, along with their tariffs, clearly indicating the cities and towns where such data services and tariff plans are applicable," Trai said.

The Authority added service providers should not offer new data services or modify existing data services or tariffs without prior publication at its website.