Extensive Drive and Walk Tests Conducted
According to TRAI, the drive tests spanned over 288 kilometres across Azamgarh and Mau, along with 4.3 kilometres of walk tests conducted between December 2 and December 5, 2025. These tests evaluated services across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G technologies, reflecting user experiences across different generations of mobile networks.
The tests were carried out using TRAI-calibrated equipment and standardised protocols to ensure fairness, transparency and accuracy. The findings have already been shared with the concerned telecom service providers for necessary corrective measures.
Voice Call Performance: Strong Results, BSNL Lags
In terms of Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), private operators delivered consistently strong performance. Vodafone Idea led with 99.84 percent, followed closely by Reliance Jio at 99.68 percent and Airtel at 99.51 percent. BSNL, however, recorded a significantly lower CSSR of 89.24 percent.
Drop Call Rates (DCR) remained minimal for most operators. Vodafone Idea reported zero drop calls, while Airtel and Jio each recorded 0.16 percent. BSNL again lagged with a higher drop call rate of 3.38 percent, indicating persistent network stability issues.
Call Quality and Signal Strength Insights
Mean Opinion Score (MOS), a key indicator of voice quality, showed Jio leading with an average score of 4.53, followed by Vodafone Idea at 4.41 and Airtel at 3.97. BSNL’s MOS stood at a comparatively low 2.38, reflecting poorer voice clarity.
Poor signal strength during voice calls was observed most frequently on the BSNL network, affecting over 22 percent of test routes. In contrast, Airtel, Jio and Vodafone Idea recorded poor signal strength below two percent, suggesting stronger coverage in the region.
Data Speeds: Jio Tops, BSNL Trails
When it comes to mobile data performance, Reliance Jio emerged as the clear leader. The operator recorded an average download speed of 184.43 Mbps across 5G and 4G networks. Airtel followed with an average of 112.53 Mbps, while Vodafone Idea delivered 29.36 Mbps.
BSNL’s data performance remained modest, with an average download speed of just 7.31 Mbps across 4G, 3G and 2G networks. Upload speeds showed a similar pattern, with Airtel leading at 22.95 Mbps and BSNL trailing at 3.23 Mbps.
Latency and Hotspot Performance
Latency levels, a crucial factor for online gaming and video calls, were lowest on Jio’s network at 22.28 milliseconds. Airtel and Vodafone Idea followed with latency below 30 milliseconds, while BSNL recorded the highest latency among the four operators.
In hotspot locations, Jio’s 5G network achieved download speeds exceeding 126 Mbps, while Airtel’s 5G delivered nearly 65 Mbps. These figures highlight the growing impact of 5G services in improving data experiences in urban pockets.
TRAI Emphasises Transparency and Consumer Awareness
TRAI reiterated that such Independent Drive Tests are aimed at improving transparency and empowering consumers with credible information about telecom service quality.
The findings also serve as a performance benchmark for telecom operators, encouraging them to address network gaps and enhance service quality, particularly in semi-urban and emerging city clusters like Azamgarh and Mau.
