TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality across Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib Cities & Amritsar to Bathinda Rail Route (in Punjab LSA)

AU-31(3)12025-RO_JPR 1/ 41946/2026 Information Note to the Press (Press Release No 6S./2026) TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA www.trai.gov.in New Delhi, oI-05-2026 For Immediate Release TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality across Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib Cities & Amritsar to Bathinda Rail Route (in Punjab LSA) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Bathlnda, Sri Muktsar Sahib Cities & Amritsar to Bathinda Rall Route (in Punjab LSA), during the month of March 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 SG 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 ­ 276.8 KMs, Hotspot locations - 06, Railway - 282.8 Kms during 16th March 2026 to 19tn March 2026 in Punjab LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Jaipur. The observations presented in 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:­ 1nr~,o~rA101 .H. O U.Pol Ru1tw._v I ..... Bathind .J ....... ,........... ~·· -~AU·J/(J)/2025·RO_JPR 1/4194612026 5. Key Parameters Assessed a) Coverage Gap: Percentage of samples, for which slgnal strength observed less than the minimum prescribed signal strength for respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ SG). b) Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (OCR), Call Setup Time, Call Siience Rate, Speech Quality (MOS). c) Call Silence Instance: Number of call silence Instance occurred during the calls. d) Data Servles: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate. 6. The overall mobile network performance In Bathlnda, Sri Muktsar Sahib Cities & Amritsar to Bathlnda Rall Route for the key parameters has been summarised below: I. Bathinda City: a) Coverage Gap - The signal strength observed during voice testing on the drive test route in auto-selection mode (SG/4G/3G/2G), measured as the number of samples having poor signal strength out of the total samples collected, was 287/30694 for Airtel, 7669/29845 for BSNL, 378/30653 for RJIL and 283/ 30542 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/ 275 for Airtel, 4/ 268 for BSNL, 1/276 for RJIL and 1/273 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 3/267 for Airtel, 1/266 for RJIL and 17/268 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 151.88 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 14.55 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 198.27 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 34.07Mbps 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 18.53 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.70 Mbps for MTNL (3G), 14.19 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 15.97 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of upload throughput has been provided In the map Annexed. II. Sri Muktsar Sahib City: 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 70/10777 for Airtel, 2180/9510 for BSNL, 148/10119 forAU-3/(3)12025-ROJPR l/ 4194612026 RJIL and 43/10123 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 0/91 for Airtel, 2/89 for BSNL, 1/91 for RJIL and 0/91 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided In the map Annexed c) Call Siience Instance - Call silence Instances, measured as the total number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total calls established, were 2/87 for Alrtel, 3/88 for RJIL and 0/87 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 172.32 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 18.20 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 222.90 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 26.51 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 11.02 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.00 Mbps for BSNL (3G), 12.87 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 13.19 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of upload throughput has been provided in the map Annexed. 111. Amritsar to Bathinda Rail Route: 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 552/21422 for Airtel, 4959/20782 for BSNL, 287/21228 for RJIL and 571/20813 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 2/108 for Airtel, 8/109 for BSNL, 0/108 for RJIL and 0/91 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed c) Data Download and Upload Throughput: (I) Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 95.82 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 18.36 Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G), 111.72 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 11.11 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 19.89 Mbps for Airtel (SG/4G), 7.82 Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G), 16.93 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 13.60 Mbps for VILAU-3/(3)/2025-ROJPR 1/ 4194612026 (SG/4G/2G). Detail of upload throughput has been provided In the map Annexed. Locations of Dropped Calls and Call Siience Instances can be seen by clicking red dot on the map Annexed. 7. Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT Is as under: ­ a) Bathinda City: - Behman Diwana, Lal Singh Nagar, Ganpati Enclave, Jassl Pauwall, Tungwali, Bhucho Mandi, Guru Goblnd Singh Nagar, Bhokra, Gonlana, Nehian Wala, Buladewala, KIIii Nihal Slnghwall and Kothe Chet Singh etc. b) Sri Muktsar Sahib City: - Bhalalana, Buttar Sarlnh, Lohara, Dada, Bhullar, New Grain Market, Subash Nagar, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Udekaran and Guru Anand Dev Nagar etc. c) Railway Route: - Amritsar to Bathlnda Via Beas Jn, Jalandhar City Jn, Kapurthala, Kapurthala Rail Coach Factory, Sultanpur Lodhi, Loh Ian Khas Jn, Makhu, Flrozpur Cantt Jn, Farldkot, Kot Kapura Jn and Gangsar Jalto. 7. 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. It,[ifo I (Rajes Kumar Agerwal) Advisor, TRAI Regional Office, Jaipur.Annexure 1. Bathinda City: 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 30694 29845 30653 30542 Number of Samples having poor signal strength 287 7669 378 283 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 in Bathinda City BSNL AIRTEL RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only 1b) 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 275 268 276 273 Number of dropped Calls 0 4 1 1 Locations of Dropped Calls in Bathinda City 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 2c) 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 267 NA* 266 268 (within service provider network) Number of silences calls for >3 Sec 3 NA* 1 14 Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec 3 NA* 1 17 * NA – Not Applicable Locations of Call Silence Instance in Bathinda City AIRTEL 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 3d) 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 in Bathinda City Measured AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Parameter in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) (upto 4G) Typical Download throughput (Mbits/s) 18.36 5.00 15.00 15.00 declared by TSP Average Download Throughput measured during (Mbits/s) 151.88 14.55 198.27 34.07 IDT AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only 4(ii) Upload Throughput in Bathinda City Measured AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Parameter in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) (upto 4G) Typical upload throughput (Mbits/s) 0.68 3.00 7.00 8.00 declared by TSP Average Upload Throughput (Mbits/s) 18.53 5.70 14.19 15.97 measured during IDT AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only 52. Sri Muktsar Sahib City: 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 10177 9510 10119 10123 Number of Samples having poor signal strength 70 2180 148 43 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 in Sri Muktsar Sahib City AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only 6b) 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 91 89 91 91 Number of dropped Calls 0 2 1 0 Locations of Dropped Calls in Sri Muktsar Sahib City BSNL RJIL 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 7c) 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 87 NA* 88 87 (within service provider network) Number of silences calls for >3 Sec 2 NA* 1 0 Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec 2 NA* 3 0 * NA – Not Applicable Locations of Call Silence Instance in Sri Muktsar Sahib City AIRTEL RJIL 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 8d) 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 in Sri Muktsar Sahib City Measured AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Parameter in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) (upto 4G) Typical Download throughput (Mbits/s) 18.36 5.00 15.00 15.00 declared by TSP Average Download Throughput measured during (Mbits/s) 172.32 18.20 222.90 26.51 IDT AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only 9(ii) Upload Throughput in Sri Muktsar Sahib City Measured AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Parameter in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) (upto 4G) Typical upload throughput (Mbits/s) 0.68 3.00 7.00 8.00 declared by TSP Average Upload Throughput (Mbits/s) 11.02 5.00 12.87 13.19 measured during IDT AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only 103. Amritsar to Bathinda Railway Route: 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 21422 20782 21228 20813 Number of Samples having poor signal strength 552 4959 287 571 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 on Amritsar to Bathinda Railway Route 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: - 11Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Number of successful Calls Established 108 109 108 91 Number of dropped Calls 2 8 0 0 Locations of Dropped Calls on Amritsar to Bathinda Railway Route AIRTEL BSIL 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 12c) Data Download and Upload throughput on Amritsar to Bathinda Railway Route: 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 on Amritsar to Bathinda Railway Route Measured AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Parameter in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) (upto 4G) Typical Download throughput (Mbits/s) 18.36 5.00 15.00 15.00 declared by TSP Average Download Throughput (Mbits/s) 95.82 18.36 111.72 11.11 measured during IDT AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only 13(ii) Upload Throughput on Amritsar to Bathinda Railway Route Measured AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Parameter in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) (upto 4G) Typical upload throughput (Mbits/s) 0.68 3.00 7.00 8.00 declared by TSP Average Upload Throughput (Mbits/s) 19.89 7.82 16.93 13.60 measured during IDT AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only 14