In a bid to strengthen the mobile network system and minimise call drops, the UT Administration has decided to earmark sites for erecting 55 more mobile towers in the city. The decision was taken in the Cellular Network Planning meeting held today under the chairmanship of UT Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar.

Representatives from various telecom companies gave a presentation elaborating the existing infrastructure which, they said, is insufficient for the city’s increasing mobile traffic. They cited a requirement of 55 additional mobile towers at various locations. The companies apprised the Administration of the current scenario in the city — of the 172 already existing mobile towers, 38 are shared by four operators, 65 by three 66 by two.

The Administration agreed to most of the sites proposed by these companies and also directed them to identify alternative sites for the towers located on residential buildings.

The Finance Secretary said the decision will ease the hardships of mobile companies in providing better mobile connectively to the consumers and enhance the quality of their services.

Kumar has asked the representatives of companies to study the viability of each tower being shared by five mobile service operators at least. He also directed the companies to install the power generators for the towers on the ground floor.