Telecom Department Limits Subscriber Enrollment During Network Test To 5%

The telecom department has restricted enrollment of test subscribers on the network of a new mobile operator to five percent of its network capacity during trial phase and testing period to maximum six months.

"The number of test subscribers that can be enrolled by a licensee in licensed service area (LSA or telecom circle) shall be limited to five percent of its installed network capacity for that LSA," the department said in its order. The order came in to effect from Oct. 9.

The telecom operator will need to submit details of network capacity to the Department of Telecom and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India at least 15 days before commencing enrollment of test subscribers.

Mukesh Ambani-led Jio started testing of its 4G network with its employees first in late 2015 and gradually opened it for all customers without announcing the final date for commercial launch of its 4G services. The company had enrolled around 15 lakh customers before commercially starting its service on Sept. 5.

The Telecom Department order restricts network test to 90 days and on case-to-case basis the test phase can extended to 180 days.

During the test phase, the subscriber on the network will not be able to avail mobile number portability service.