The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a detailed report on mobile network quality in the Leh region and surrounding routes, including Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake. The tests were conducted between June 10 to 12, 2025 as part of an Independent Drive Test (IDT).
The purpose was simple — assess real-world mobile performance in high-altitude and challenging terrains. TRAI’s findings offer deep insights into how telecom networks are serving users across urban hubs, highways, and remote tourist routes.
Where Was the Test Conducted?
TRAI’s regional team covered a range of environments:
- Leh City: Choglamsar, Spituk, Yurtung, Leh Market
- Hotspots: Leh Airport, SNM Hospital, Shanti Stupa, Lamdon School, EJM College
- Highways: Leh to Nubra Valley via North Pullu, Khardung, Khalsar, Hunder
- Scenic Routes: Nubra to Pangong via Shyok, Durbuk, Tangtse, Spangmik, Man, Merak
- Return to Leh: Through Tsoltak, Zingral, Karu, Thiksey, Shey
In total, the team covered 41.3 km city drive, 302 km highway drive, 5 hotspots, and a 2 km walk test in Leh Market.
Which Networks Were Evaluated?
TRAI tested three major telecom players — Airtel, BSNL, and Reliance Jio (RJIL). Vodafone Idea (VIL) had no active network in the tested zones.
All 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G services were evaluated depending on availability and handset compatibility.
Voice Quality Results
TRAI measured call setup success, call drops, mute/silence issues, and speech quality using Mean Opinion Score (MOS).
- Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR): Airtel: 57.11%, BSNL: 47.03%, RJIL: 49.78%
- Call Drop Rate (DCR): Airtel: 9.70%, BSNL: 4.67%, RJIL: 7.17%
- Call Setup Time (CST): Airtel: 1.90s, BSNL: 4.36s, RJIL: 1.56s
- Call Silence Rate: Airtel: 6.82%, BSNL: 4.97%, RJIL: 14.18%
- Mean Opinion Score (MOS): Airtel: 3.81, BSNL: 2.53, RJIL: 3.56
RJIL showed faster call setup but had a higher mute rate. Airtel had the best voice clarity, while BSNL offered the lowest drop rate.
Data Speed and Network Experience
TRAI evaluated download/upload speeds, latency, jitter, and video streaming performance.
- Average Download Speed: RJIL: 144.09 Mbps, Airtel: 95.39 Mbps, BSNL: 2.62 Mbps
- Average Upload Speed: Airtel: 16.59 Mbps, RJIL: 13.99 Mbps, BSNL: 4.06 Mbps
- Latency (Median): RJIL: 15.40 ms, Airtel: 23.30 ms, BSNL: 37.65 ms
RJIL led in 5G download speed, especially at hotspot locations like Leh Airport and Pangong. Airtel performed well in upload and voice clarity. BSNL lagged significantly in both data and voice quality.
Performance at Hotspots
TRAI also tested mobile networks at key landmarks and crowded areas.
- Airtel 5G: D/L: 152 Mbps, U/L: 26.45 Mbps
- RJIL 5G: D/L: 275.60 Mbps, U/L: 32.73 Mbps
- BSNL 4G: D/L: 2.29 Mbps, U/L: 6.55 Mbps
RJIL’s 5G speed at Pangong and Lamdon School stood out. Airtel maintained consistent performance. BSNL struggled in every zone, with particularly poor data rates.
Walk Test in Leh Market
TRAI conducted a walk test in the crowded Leh Market to understand how networks function in dense pedestrian zones. RJIL maintained better data throughput. Airtel gave better voice quality. BSNL’s coverage and responsiveness remained below expectations.
Why This Matters
Ladakh is a vital region for national security, tourism, and border connectivity. Mobile networks are essential for residents, tourists, and army personnel. This TRAI assessment offers transparency and pushes operators to improve their presence in remote and high-altitude zones.
5G is expanding fast, but it still needs infrastructure boosts in places like Nubra Valley and Pangong.
What Comes Next?
TRAI has shared these findings with all operators. The ball is now in the court of Airtel, RJIL, and BSNL to fix coverage gaps and network weaknesses.
The full report is available on the TRAI website. For questions, users can contact Shri Vivek Khare, Advisor, TRAI Delhi at adv.ca@trai.gov.in.
