The Department of telecommunications (DoT) has stated that the government could penalise telecom operators, if the issue of call drops is not resolved within 45 days. The penalty levied for call drops could be to the tune of Rs 500 million.

According to DoT, as the operators are shifting to the recently acquired spectrum to provide data services, the voice services are getting affected. DoT has thus directed telecom operators to optimise networks to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, operators are of the view that the lack of availability of a sufficient quantum of harmonised spectrum in contiguous form, shutting down of mobile towers and radiation fears are the key reasons for call drops.