Call drop is- “a voice call, which after being successfully established, is interrupted prior to its normal completion (and) the cause of early termination is within the network of the service provider.

What Causes Call Drops?

The reasons for call drop are technical and non-technical issues. Primary among the technical reasons include lack of radio coverage, radio interference between neighboring cells, imperfections in the functioning of the network, capacity constraints and overload, transmission media-related problems and unauthorized repeaters.

Non-technical issues could be low battery, low funds in pre-paid connections. Even if you are miffed with your partner and disconnect the call, it’s considered a call drop.

• Inadequate coverage which can be due to multiple reasons: 
  • Lack of tower infrastructure
  • Improper network planning
  • Non-optimization of network 
• Overloaded cell towers – the number of subscribers are growing day by day and most of them are on smartphones. The network capacity is simply not being ramped up at the same pace resulting in overloaded networks
• Cityscape changes – there have been instances where a new multistoried building comes up and the adjacent building’s subscribers lose cell reception. Such instances are very common with rapidly changing cityscapes and call for routine network data analysis from service providers. 
• Switching between towers – this situation occurs when a person is traveling or moving around while talking. If a call handover takes place from one BTS to another, especially in case of overloaded networks, there are chances of dropped calls.
• Technical Failures – this is beyond anyone’s control and operators generally monitor downtimes

The solution to call drops:

• Optimize the networks and improve planning approaches –
  • the adoption of Self-Organizing Networks (SON) can mean real-time capacity adjustments in an automated manner. 
  • Improved planning means usage of modern approaches like GIS for network planning.
• Allay Radiation Fears: With radiation scare causing major concerns, ideally telcos can take a collaborative route and use print, digital media to spread awareness. This will naturally result in citizens coming forward and proposing locations for newer towers as it involves monetary benefits. 
• Use Analytics: Customers must not have to undergo hardships to solve call drop issues. Through the use of sophisticated analytics, operators must be in a position to assess the health of their networks, measure the quantum of call drops and address them accordingly. 
• On the LTE front: LTE offers more benefits in terms of spectral efficiency.
• Technologies like Wi-Fi offloading must be rolled out in a faster manner.
• Indoor coverage: Indoor coverage has always been a problem, especially with higher frequencies. 
• Offset power failures
  • Operators need to look for better, environment-friendly alternatives than diesel generators.
  • A robust small cell network might even mean no need for a bigger power source.
• e-Clearance for new cell towers: The Government, in association with TRAI or DoT could set up a new single-channel website with appropriate revenue sharing model (state, local bodies) for faster clearance of new cell towers.