The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the findings of its Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Nasik and the Nasik Licensed Service Area (LSA). The assessment, carried out in November 2025 under the supervision of TRAI’s Regional Office in Bengaluru, aimed to evaluate real-world mobile network performance across diverse environments including urban areas, highways, public transport hubs and institutional hotspots.
Assessment of Voice Services
TRAI evaluated key Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for voice services such as Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Call Setup Time, Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Silence Rate and Mean Opinion Score (MOS). The results revealed that Reliance Jio achieved a 100 percent call setup success rate, while Airtel recorded 99.64 percent. Vodafone Idea registered a CSSR of 94.66 percent, whereas BSNL lagged behind at 86.60 percent.
In terms of drop call rates, Airtel reported zero dropped calls during the test, followed by Jio at 0.71 percent and Vodafone Idea at 0.94 percent. BSNL recorded a comparatively higher drop call rate of 4.72 percent. Call setup time was fastest on Airtel and Jio networks, while BSNL and Vodafone Idea took longer to establish calls.
Voice quality measured through Mean Opinion Score showed Jio leading with an average MOS of 4.40, followed by Vodafone Idea at 4.05 and Airtel at 3.85. BSNL recorded the lowest MOS at 2.98, indicating scope for improvement in voice clarity.
Data Services Performance
The IDT report also highlighted significant variations in mobile data performance across service providers. Reliance Jio recorded the highest average download speed at 193.31 Mbps across 5G and 4G networks. Airtel followed with an average download speed of 104.52 Mbps, while Vodafone Idea recorded 59.74 Mbps. BSNL’s average download speed remained limited to 5.03 Mbps.
Upload speeds showed Airtel marginally ahead with an average of 26.21 Mbps, followed by Jio at 23.51 Mbps and Vodafone Idea at 15.92 Mbps. BSNL once again trailed with an upload speed of 4.78 Mbps. Latency measurements indicated Jio delivering the lowest median latency at 24.55 milliseconds, which is crucial for real-time applications.
Hotspots, Walk Tests and Highway Coverage
The assessment covered several high-density and sensitive locations such as Nashik International Airport, Panchavati, Mumbai Naka, Indira Nagar, Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling Temple and Civil Hospital. Walk tests were conducted at Nashik Railway Station, Panchwati Ghat, Shalimar Market and Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Bus Stand to capture network performance in crowded pedestrian zones.
Highway drive tests were carried out along routes connecting Nashik to Shirdi and other surrounding regions, passing through forested and rural stretches. These tests were aimed at understanding service continuity and signal stability during long-distance travel.
Next Steps
TRAI stated that the findings of the Independent Drive Test have been shared with all Telecom Service Providers for necessary corrective measures. The tests were conducted using calibrated equipment and standardised protocols to ensure accuracy and transparency. The detailed report is available on the official TRAI website.
The assessment highlights the progress made in high-speed mobile services, particularly 5G, while also underscoring areas where improvement is required to enhance overall user experience in the region.
