Updated: 01/24/2014 18:28 | By Channel NewsAsia
M1 fined S$25,000 for failing to meet outdoor coverage requirements
SINGAPORE: Telco M1 has been slapped with a S$25,000 penalty for not meeting some of the outdoor coverage requirements stipulated by the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA).
IDA said it decided to impose this financial penalty in view of M1's continued efforts to improve overall coverage.
Under the Quality of Service (QoS) framework, operators may be subject to financial penalties of up to $50,000 per month for each instance of non-compliance for each indicator.
The indicators are nation-wide outdoor service coverage, call success rate, call drop rate, in-building service coverage, and tunnel service coverage.
IDA said SingTel Mobile and StarHub Mobile have met its QoS for the Nationwide Outdoor Service Coverage Indicator.
Both telcos recorded performances of more than 99 per cent in the second and third quarters of last year.
The tests involve taking measurements at housing estates or town centres, outdoor recreational areas, above ground MRT tracks, and nation-wide drive tests.
IDA also conducted its first audit for In-Building Service Coverage since the revised indicator came into effect on 1 April 2013.
IDA said all mobile operators met IDA's standard of more than 85 per cent service coverage in most of the buildings it audited.
However, some mobile operators did not meet its QoS standard in particular buildings.
IDA will give mobile operators six months to improve service coverage in those buildings that did not meet its QoS standard.
IDA said it would audit buildings with weaker signal coverage again in early- and mid-2014 before deciding on a penalty.
As for road and MRT tunnels, all three mobile operators have met IDA's standard of more than 95 per cent service coverage standard in the tunnels. - CNA/ec
