**Executive Summary**
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the results of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted in June 2026 across Barmer, Balotra, Pachpadra, and surrounding areas in the Rajasthan LSA. The test evaluated the real-time quality of voice and data services provided by Airtel, BSNL, RJIL, and VIL to inform consumers and prompt service improvements. Findings have been shared with the respective Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) for necessary corrective actions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Test Methodology and Scope**
* **Duration and Area:** Tests were conducted from June 1st to June 4th, 2026, covering 350.3 kilometers of city drives and seven hotspot locations, including Gadra Road, Ramsar, and Baytu.
* **Technologies Tested:** The IDT assessed 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks using advanced software and test handsets to simulate live voice and data sessions.
* **Parameters:** Key metrics included Coverage Gap, Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Silence instances, and data throughput (Download/Upload).
**Voice Service Performance**
* **Dropped Calls:** Airtel recorded zero dropped calls out of 255 attempts. BSNL recorded the highest number of drops (8), followed by VIL (7) and RJIL (2).
* **Call Silence:** BSNL and VIL showed significant call silence instances (24 and 30 respectively), while Airtel recorded none.
* **Coverage Gaps:** BSNL exhibited the most significant coverage issues with 6,332 samples of poor signal strength and 2,258 samples of no coverage. RJIL had the lowest number of poor signal samples (355).
**Data Service Performance**
* **Download Speeds:** RJIL recorded the highest average download throughput at 228.12 Mbps, followed by Airtel (145.06 Mbps), VIL (22.40 Mbps), and BSNL (8.11 Mbps).
* **Upload Speeds:** Airtel led in upload performance with 24.57 Mbps, closely followed by RJIL at 22.28 Mbps. BSNL recorded the lowest average upload speed at 3.60 Mbps.
* **Comparison:** Most TSPs met or exceeded their typical declared throughput, though BSNL's performance remained notably lower than its private counterparts.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Service Providers (Airtel, BSNL, RJIL, VIL)**
**Impact**
The drive test identifies specific geographical locations where service quality (coverage, call drops, and data speeds) fails to meet prescribed standards or typical declared values.
**Action Required**
TSPs must review the shared findings and take necessary corrective actions to address coverage gaps, high call drop rates, and call silence instances in the tested routes.
**General Telecom Consumers**
**Impact**
Consumers are provided with objective, real-time performance data regarding the quality of mobile services in the Barmer, Balotra, and Pachpadra regions.
**Action Required**
Consumers can use the detailed drive test reports and maps available on the TRAI website to make informed decisions regarding their choice of service provider.
**TRAI Regional Office (Jaipur)**
**Impact**
The office oversaw the execution of the tests and is responsible for monitoring the follow-up actions taken by TSPs.
**Action Required**
The Regional Office remains the point of contact for clarifications and will continue to facilitate the improvement of network quality in the Rajasthan LSA.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The statutory regulator of the telecommunications sector in India responsible for conducting Independent Drive Tests to verify service quality.
Independent Drive Test (IDT): A specialized assessment initiative conducted to verify the real-time quality of voice and data services provided by Telecom Service Providers.
Quality of Service (QoS): The regulatory framework and set of parameters, such as Call Drop Rate and throughput, used to measure and benchmark mobile network performance.
Rajasthan Licensed Service Area (LSA): The specific geographic region, including Barmer, Balotra, and Pachpadra, where the network quality assessment was implemented.
AU-3/(3)/2025-RO_JPR I/42850/2026
Information Note to the Press (Press Release No 90/2026)
TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA
www.trai.gov.in
New Delhi, 09-07-2026
For Immediate Release
TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality across Barmer, Balotra,
Pachpadra city and adjoining areas (in Rajasthan LSA)
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of
Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Barmer, Balotra, Pachpadra
city and adjoining areas (in Rajasthan LSA), during the month of June 2026,
for information of general telecom consumers. The purpose of this drive test is to
assess and verify real time quality of mobile network services (both voice & data)
provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). During the IDT, TRAI captures
performance of TSPs for key Quality of Service (QoS) parameters like Coverage,
Call Drop Rate (CDR), Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), data Download (DL) and
Upload (UL) throughput etc., which are then published to inform Consumers and
encourage TSPs to improve their services.
2. These IDTs have been designed to capture on ground mobile network
performance of all TSPs across diverse usages environment like cities, hotspots,
public transport hubs, etc. In this type of drive testing, live data and voice
sessions are established using SIM cards from all TSPs over 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G
networks. Multiple advanced test handsets are used, and the sessions are
monitored and analysed in real-time using advanced Software Systems.
3. TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted drive tests across City drive –
350.3 KMs, Hotspot locations - 07 of Barmer, Balotra, Pachpadra city and
adjoining areas (in Rajasthan LSA) during 1st June 2026 to 2nd June & on 4th
June 2026 in Rajasthan LSA. These tests were conducted under the
supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Jaipur. The observations presented in the
drive test reports represent the performance of the TSPs on the area/ route under
test on the day/ time of conducting the drive test.
4. Drive Test Route Map: The following map provides overview of drive test
routes indicating City drive, Inter-operator calling, Hotspots and Walk tests, as
per the legends shown on the map: -
Pa ge 1 | 3AU-3/(3)/2025-RO_JPR I/42850/2026
5.Key Parameters Assessed
a) Coverage Gap: Percentage of samples, for which signal strength
observed less than the minimum prescribed signal strength for
respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G).
b) Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate
(DCR), Call Setup Time, Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS).
c) Call Silence Instance: Number of call silence instance occurred
during the calls.
d) Data Servies: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet
Drop Rate.
6. The overall mobile network performance in Barmer, Balotra, Pachpadra city
and adjoining areas for the key parameters has been summarised below:
a) Coverage Gap - The signal strength observed during voice testing on
the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G), measured
as the number of samples having poor signal strength out of the total
samples collected, was 874/28421 for Airtel, 6332/21622 for BSNL,
355/28540 for RJIL and 4378/27385 for VIL. Details of the coverage
gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.
b) Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped
calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 0/255
for Airtel, 8/183 for BSNL, 2/260 for RJIL and 7/251 for VIL. Details of
the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed.
c) Call Silence Instance - Call silence instances, measured as the total
number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total
calls established, were 0/249 for Airtel, 24/143 for BSNL, 3/250 for
RJIL and 30/236 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations
have been provided in the map Annexed.
d) Data Download and Upload Throughput:
i) Data Download performance (Overall): Average download
speed was observed as 145.06 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 8.11
Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G/2G), 228.12 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G)
and 22.40 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download
throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.
ii) Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed
was observed as 24.57 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 3.60 Mbps for
BSNL (4G/3G/2G), 22.28 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 10.99
Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of upload throughput has been
provided in the map Annexed.
Locations of Dropped Calls and Call Silence instances can be seen by
clicking red dot on the map Annexed.
Pa ge 2 | 3AU-3/(3)/2025-RO_JPR I/42850/2026
7. Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT are as under: -
City- Gadra Road, Gagriya, Ramsar, Bhachbhar, Barmer, Uttarlai, Kawas, Lapla, Baytu,
Gol Station, Tilwara, Balotra, Jerla and Pachpadra etc in Barmer, Balotra, Pachpadra city
and adjoining areas.
8. The findings of this IDT report have been shared with respective TSPs for
taking further necessary action at their end, if required. Detailed report of
IDT is made available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. For any
clarification or additional information, an email can be sent to Regional
office of TRAI at Jaipur on Email id adv.jaipur@trai.gov.in Regional Office of
TRAI at Jaipur RO can be contacted on telephone no. 0141-2701919.
(Rajesh Kumar Agerwal)
Advisor, TRAI
Regional Office, Jaipur.
Enclosed: Annexure
Pa ge 3 | 3Annexure
Barmer,Balotra & Pachpadra cities and surrounding area
a) Coverage Gap – The coverage distribution found less than the minimum specified signal
strength for the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during voice testing, is
as below:
Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL
Total Number of Samples captured on Drive test route 28421 21622 28540 27385
Number of Samples having poor signal strength 874 6332 355 4378
Number of Samples having limited service (No Coverage) 0 2258 0 440
Note: Signal strength has been considered poor if it falls below −110 dBm for 5G & 4G, −90 dBm
for 3G, and −85 dBm for 2G.
Coverage Gap observed
AIRTEL BSNL
RJIL
VIL
Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.b) Dropped Calls - The TSP-wise details of dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/ 3G/ 2G)
are as below:
Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL
Number of successful Calls Established 255 183 260 251
Number of dropped Calls 0 8 2 7
Locations of Dropped Calls
BSNL RJIL
VIL
Note: Dropped calls locations are shown in red colour and which can be clicked to know the exact
location (latitude and longitude) on the map.
2 Barmer,Balotra & Pachpadra cities and surrounding areac) Call Silence Instance - The TSP-wise details of Call silence instance in Auto-selection mode
(5G/4G) are as below:
Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL
Call Established
249 143 250 236
(within service provider network)
Number of silences calls for >3 Sec 0 16 3 21
Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec 0 24 3 30
Locations of Call Silence Instance
BSNL RJIL
VIL
Note: Call silence instances are shown in red colour and which can be clicked to know the exact
location (latitude and longitude) on the map.
3 Barmer,Balotra & Pachpadra cities and surrounding aread) Data Download and Upload throughput: The TSP-wise details of Average Download (DL)
and Upload (UL) throughput against declared typical DL/UL Throughput for month, in Auto-
selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) are as below:
(i) Download Throughput
Measured AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL
Parameter
in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) (upto 4G)
Typical Download throughput
(Mbits/s) 11.42 5.00 15.00 15.00
declared by TSP
Average Download
Throughput measured during (Mbits/s) 145.06 8.11 228.12 22.40
IDT
AIRTEL BSNL
RJIL
VIL
Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.
4 Barmer,Balotra & Pachpadra cities and surrounding area(ii) Upload Throughput
Measured AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL
Parameter
in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) (upto 4G)
Typical upload throughput
(Mbits/s) 20.28 3.00 7.00 8.00
declared by TSP
Average Upload Throughput
(Mbits/s) 24.57 3.60 22.28 10.99
m easured during IDT
AIRTEL BSNL
RJIL VIL
Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.
5 Barmer,Balotra & Pachpadra cities and surrounding area