The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed quality of service guidelines for telecom operators deploying 5G network slicing, aimed at ensuring that dynamic resource allocation does not degrade service quality for general subscribers, amid the ongoing debate around net neutrality. The draft rules also propose allowing operators to charge different rates for 4G, 5G and other services.
TRAI said the launch of commercial plans based on 5G slicing has made it necessary to monitor on-ground impact through quality-of-service parameters. It proposed that different network slices providing the same service, such as internet access, must adhere to the same quality of service standards and prioritisation as prescribed in 3rd Generation Partnership Project Standard 15, with equal allocation and retention priority values.
Each slice for enhanced mobile broadband will be treated as a separate tariff offering, and operators will be required to disclose measured download and upload speeds for each slice. A slice will be considered non-compliant if speeds fall below the typical advertised levels. Operators will also need to maintain 80 per cent capacity utilisation of radio resources during peak hours in a 5G network, with no more than 1 per cent of cells in an area exceeding that threshold.
From October onwards, telcos will be required to disclose to the regulator the capacity provisioned in each participating radio network cell. TRAI said the proposed guidelines are aligned with regulatory frameworks in the European Union, the United Kingdom, France and the United States.