The drive tests were carried out under the supervision of TRAI’s Regional Office, Delhi, covering diverse usage environments such as residential clusters, public transport hubs, educational institutions and high-speed corridors. The results have been formally shared with all concerned Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
Scope and Methodology of the Drive Test
Between November 11 and November 13, 2025, TRAI teams conducted drive tests covering nearly 180 kilometres of city routes, six major hotspot locations, a 2.3-kilometre walk test, and inter-operator calling at one designated location. The assessment spanned 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G technologies, ensuring coverage across different handset capabilities.
Tests were conducted using TRAI-recommended equipment and standardised protocols to capture real-time network behaviour under practical conditions. This approach ensures transparency and comparability of results across service providers.
Voice Services Performance
In terms of voice services, Reliance Jio emerged with the highest Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR) of 99.73 percent in auto-selection mode, followed by BSNL at 98.64 percent, Airtel at 98.11 percent, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) at 96.82 percent.
Call setup time was recorded as fastest for Jio at 0.79 seconds, while Airtel stood at 1.44 seconds, Vi at 1.06 seconds, and BSNL lagged at 3.36 seconds. Lower call setup times indicate quicker call connectivity for users.
Drop Call Rate (DCR) remained lowest for Vi at 0.27 percent and Jio at 0.55 percent, while Airtel recorded 2.20 percent and BSNL 6.34 percent. Mean Opinion Score (MOS), which reflects perceived voice quality, was highest for Airtel at 3.93, followed by Vi at 3.88.
Data Services and Internet Performance
Data performance showed significant variation across operators. Reliance Jio recorded the highest average download speed at 252.75 Mbps across 5G and 4G networks, followed by Airtel at 168.90 Mbps. BSNL and Vi recorded comparatively lower speeds of 8.26 Mbps and 12.64 Mbps respectively.
Upload speeds also favoured Airtel and Jio, with averages of 34.93 Mbps and 30.78 Mbps respectively. Latency performance was strongest for Airtel at 22.56 milliseconds, indicating smoother browsing and streaming experiences.
Performance in High-Density Areas
The assessment covered high-density neighbourhoods including Panjhera, Nalagarh, Barotiwala, Gularwala and Baddi town areas. Public locations such as Baddi Bus Stand, City Hospital, Baddi University, Maurice Square Mall and major religious sites were also evaluated.
Walk tests conducted at City Square Mall and Gol Market captured network behaviour in crowded pedestrian environments, offering insights into performance during peak usage hours.
Transparency and Consumer Awareness
TRAI stated that the objective of Independent Drive Tests is to provide transparent, objective and consumer-relevant information on mobile network quality. The detailed report is publicly available on the official TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in.
For further clarification, users may contact the TRAI Regional Office, Delhi. These findings are expected to encourage service providers to further enhance network quality and improve consumer experience.
