**Executive Summary**
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the findings of Independent Drive Tests (IDT) conducted from April 13 to April 17, 2026, in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. The assessment evaluated the real-time voice and data quality of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) across 374.5 KMs of city routes, 13 hotspots, and 2.2 KMs of walk tests. The report serves to inform consumers and mandates that TSPs take necessary actions to address identified performance gaps.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Test Scope and Methodology**
* **Network Coverage:** Testing included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks using live data and voice sessions.
* **Environment:** Tests were conducted in diverse environments, including cities, hotspots (e.g., Dibrugarh University, Railway Stations), and crowded pedestrian areas via walk tests.
* **Supervision:** The drive tests were supervised by the TRAI Regional Office, Kolkata, using advanced handsets and software for real-time analysis.
**Voice Service Performance**
* **Coverage Gaps:** Significant signal strength deficiencies were noted; BSNL recorded the highest number of poor signal samples (12,888), followed closely by VIL (12,475).
* **Dropped Calls:** BSNL exhibited the highest failure rate with 144 dropped calls out of 501 attempts, while Airtel and RJIL recorded the lowest (1 and 2 drops respectively).
* **Call Silence:** Instances of call silence exceeding three seconds were observed across all providers, with BSNL reporting the highest frequency (18 instances).
**Data Service Performance**
* **Download Throughput:** RJIL recorded the highest average download speed at 225.08 Mbps, while BSNL recorded the lowest at 9.81 Mbps.
* **Upload Throughput:** Airtel achieved the highest average upload speed (26.18 Mbps), whereas BSNL recorded the lowest (5.71 Mbps).
* **Additional Parameters:** Performance was also measured based on latency, jitter, and packet drop rates to determine overall data quality.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) – Airtel, BSNL, RJIL, VIL**
**Impact**
The report highlights specific technical failures in their networks, including coverage gaps, high call drop rates, and sub-optimal data speeds in the Assam LSA.
**Action Required**
TSPs must review the IDT findings and take necessary corrective actions to improve Quality of Service (QoS) parameters.
**Telecom Consumers**
**Impact**
Consumers are provided with transparent, on-ground performance data regarding voice and data quality to help them make informed choices.
**Action Required**
Consumers are encouraged to use these findings to monitor service quality and hold providers accountable for performance improvements.
**TRAI Regional Office Kolkata / Regulatory Agency**
**Impact**
The agency is responsible for the supervision and publication of these results to ensure regulatory compliance.
**Action Required**
Maintain oversight of the TSPs' subsequent actions and provide clarifications on the reports through established contact channels.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The primary regulatory body responsible for conducting network quality assessments and ensuring compliance with service standards.
Independent Drive Test (IDT): The specific technical assessment initiative used to capture real-time performance data of mobile networks for voice and data services.
Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts, Assam: The specific geographical focus areas and Licensed Service Area (LSA) where the network quality assessment was conducted.
Quality of Service (QoS) parameters: The regulatory metrics, such as Call Drop Rate (CDR) and data throughput, used to benchmark the performance of Telecom Service Providers.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality across
Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts in the State of
Assam under Assam 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 Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts in the State of Assam under Assam LSA, during the
month of April 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 – 374.5 KMs, Hotspot
locations - 13, Walk Test – 2.2 KMs in Assam State during 13th April 2026 to 17th April 2026 in Assam
LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Kolkata. 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 Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts for the key parameters has
been summarised below: -
a) Coverage Gap - The signal strength observed during voice testing on the city drive test
route and highway 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 2760/
63534 for Airtel, 12888/ 59776 for BSNL, 4181/ 59698 for RJIL and 12475/ 62440 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 1/ 447 for Airtel, 144/ 501 for BSNL, 2/ 446
for RJIL and 11/ 445 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 7/ 441 for Airtel, 18/
384 for BSNL, 10/ 432 for RJIL and 9/ 389 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
116.52 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 9.81 Mbps for BSNL (4G/2G), 225.08 Mbps for RJIL
(5G/4G) and 27.27 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 26.18
Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.71 Mbps for BSNL (4G/ 2G), 16.19 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G)
and 7.37 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 is as under: -
a) City - The areas covered in the city drive are Dibrugarh Airport, Dibrujan, Boiragimoth,
Marwari Patty, Amolapatty, Bor Baruah, Chring Gaon, Nij Khanikar Gaon, Halaguri Gaon,
Naharkatia, Chalakataki No.2, Jaloni Naohalia, Duliajan No.1, Gelipung, Borbil Gaon No.2,
Powai Forest Village, Ledo, Digboi, Ultapool, Lajum Gaon No.1, Tipuk TE 101 Fs., Doom
Dooma, Makum, Tinsukia and Mereli Pathar etc.
b) Hotspot - The hot spot locations, capturing stationary user experience, are (i) Coal Heritage
Park and Museum Margherita, (ii) Dibrugarh Railway Station, (iii) Dibrugarh University (iv)
Digboi College, Digboi, (v) District and Sessions Judge Court Dibrugarh, (vi) District Judicial
Court Borguri Tinsukia, (vii) Duliajan College - 1 No. Dulia Duliajan, (viii) Duliajan New Bus
Stand Hukuta Duliajan Oil Town Duliajan, (ix) Dibrugarh Head Post Office Rkb Path,
Dibrugarh, (x) IOCL Digboi Refinery Main Gate IOCL AOD Private Rd Digboi, (xi) Tata
Hospital and Research Centre Khailabari Bagan Gaon, (xii) Tinsukia Dist. Head Post Office
Thana Rd Opposite of Sadar Police Station Tinsukia, (xiii) Tinsukia Medical College and
Hospital Luhari Bongali Gaon.
c) Walk Test - The walk tests conducted during 13th to 16th April 2026, covered (i) Assam
Medical College and Hospital Dibrugarh, (ii) New Tinsukia Junction Railway Station Tinsukia,
(iii) Tinsukia Civil Hospital Sector 1 Bordoloi Nagar Tinsukia, capturing mobile network
behaviour in crowded pedestrian environments.
The findings of this IDT report have been shared with respective TSPs for taking further necessary action
at their end. Detailed reports of IDT are made available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. For any
clarification or additional information, an email can be sent to adv.kolkata@trai.gov.in or Regional Office
of TRAI at Kolkata RO can be contacted on telephone no. +91-33-22361401.
Click here to see Annexure
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