**Executive Summary**
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the findings of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted between May 5 and May 8, 2026, to assess mobile network quality in Bharuch city and surrounding areas of the Gujarat LSA. The report evaluates the voice and data performance of all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks to inform consumers and encourage service improvements. Findings have been shared with TSPs to prompt necessary corrective actions where performance gaps were identified.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Testing Methodology**
* Tests covered a 361.2 KM city drive, 11 hotspot locations, and a 1.5 KM walk test.
* Assessments included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks using advanced test handsets and software systems.
* The test focused on key Quality of Service (QoS) parameters, including coverage, call success rates, and data throughput.
* **Network Coverage Gaps**
* Coverage gaps were measured by signal strength falling below prescribed minimums.
* RJIL recorded the fewest poor signal samples (377), followed by Airtel (618) and VIL (1311).
* BSNL recorded the highest number of poor signal samples at 3,289.
* **Voice Service Performance**
* **Dropped Calls:** Airtel and VIL recorded zero dropped calls during the test. RJIL recorded 1 drop out of 380 calls, while BSNL recorded the highest at 10 drops out of 365 calls.
* **Call Silence Instances:** BSNL exhibited the highest frequency of call silence (instances > 3 seconds) with 41 cases. RJIL had the lowest with 4 instances, followed by Airtel (6) and VIL (28).
* **Data Throughput (Download and Upload)**
* **Download Speeds:** RJIL achieved the highest average download speed at 180.22 Mbps, followed by Airtel at 117.72 Mbps. VIL and BSNL recorded significantly lower speeds at 31.14 Mbps and 12.93 Mbps, respectively.
* **Upload Speeds:** Airtel led in upload performance at 24.53 Mbps, followed closely by RJIL at 24.09 Mbps. VIL recorded 17.38 Mbps, while BSNL recorded the lowest average at 4.59 Mbps.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
**Impact**
The report publicly highlights specific performance deficiencies in coverage, call stability, and data speeds for each provider.
**Action Required**
TSPs are required to review the findings and take necessary corrective actions to improve network quality and meet QoS parameters.
**General Telecom Consumers**
**Impact**
Consumers receive transparent, real-time data regarding the actual performance of different mobile networks in the Bharuch area.
**Action Required**
Consumers can use the published findings to make informed decisions regarding their choice of service provider.
**TRAI Regional Office (Jaipur)**
**Impact**
The office acted as the supervisory body for the tests and is responsible for the dissemination of the results.
**Action Required**
The Regional Office remains available to provide clarifications and additional information to stakeholders via email or telephone.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The regulatory body responsible for assessing and verifying the quality of mobile network services through independent testing.
Independent Drive Test (IDT): An initiative used to capture on-ground mobile network performance data across various technologies (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G) to ensure Quality of Service (QoS) standards.
Bharuch city and nearby areas (Gujarat LSA): The specific geographic location where the network quality assessment and drive tests were conducted.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality across
Bharuch city and nearby areas (in Gujarat LSA)
प्रव तथ: 03 JUL 2026 12:25PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT)
conducted across Bharuch city and nearby areas (in Gujarat LSA), during the month of May 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.
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.
TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted drive tests across City drive – 361.2 KMs, Hotspot
locations - 11 and Walk Test - 1.5 KMs in Bharuch city and nearby areas during 5th May 2026 to 8th
May 2026 in Gujarat 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.
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: -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.
The overall mobile network performance in Bharuch city and nearby 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 618/42053 for Airtel, 3289/40866 for BSNL, 377/42071 for
RJIL and 1311/41818 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 0/378 for Airtel, 10/365 for BSNL, 1/380 for RJIL and 0/380
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 6/365 for Airtel, 41/309 for BSNL,
4/366 for RJIL and 28/363 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 117.72 Mbps
for Airtel (5G/4G), 12.93 Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G/2G), 180.22 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and
31.14 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 24.53 Mbps for
Airtel (5G/4G), 4.59 Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G/2G), 24.09 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 17.38
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.
Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT are as under: -City – Derol, Samni, Vagara, Pakhajan, Galenda, Dahej, Lakhigam, Luvara, Ambetha, Jolva, Eksal,
Dehgam, Andada, Ankleshwar, Kosamdi, Govali Bet, Jhanor, Nabipur, Palej and Tankariya etc.
Hotspot-- Ankleshwar GSRTC Bus Stand, Ankleshwar Railway Station , Bharuch GSRTC Bus Stand,
Bharuch Railway Station, City Centre Bharuch, Civil Hospital Bharuch, Collector Office Bharuch, Inox
Shalimar Mall, Matariya Talav, Panchbatti Chauraha, Zadeshwar Chaukdi.
Walk Test-- Soneri Mahal to Dhodhi Kui Bazaar.
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.
Click here to see Annexure
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