TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality Across Highway & Railway Route- Hindupur to Hyderabad etc.

Information Note to the Press (Press Release No g2:./2026) TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA www.trai.gov.in Hyderabad,.!l·;( ,2026 For Immediate Release TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality Across Highway Route- Hindupur to Hyderabad passing through Anantapur, Dhone, Kurnool and Jadcherla etc. Railway Route- Hyderabad to Hindupur passing through Jadcherla, Kurnool Town, Dhone Junction, Gooty Junction, Anantapur and Dharmavaram Junction etc. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Rail Hyderabad to Hindupur and Highway Hindupur to Hyderabad under AP 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. 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 Highway ­ 473.7 KMs and Railway - 515.8 Kms, Hindupur to Hyderabad - Highway and Hyderabad to Hindupur - Railway from 20th April 2026 to 21st April 2026 in Andhra Pradesh LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Hyderabad. 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 indicatin Hi hwa and Railwa as er the le ends shown on the map:- .•. Laheerabad ~0"?...1"l.> 6~ I Hyderabad 0 ~lS~li Tandur 0 6S 5edam e-oG.:rU> ~eao J67N 1:,0 1611( ,.,Wanapar1hv .:;~g . . t ullarnalJI Forest Montraloyum "'~VU.....S. .,o Atmali.ur l~!Hf<i~ I I Nandyala 0 :So~v Allagadda.., Aho'Jtlam 61 flit~ ~t!. ffll~'f-'~1n ,., Q D 25. 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 (OCR), 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 Hyderabad for the key parameters has been summarised below:- Hindupur to Hyderabad Highway: a) Coverage Gap -(i) 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 427/33655 for Airtel, 7003/32128 for BSNL, 751/33289 for RJIL and 4021/33216 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed. (ii) 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 Limited Service (NO Coverage) out of the total samples collected, was 0/33655 for Airtel, 94/32128 for BSNL, 0/33289 for RJIL and 35/33216 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 0/169 for Airtel, 15/169 for BSNL, 0/169 for RJIL and 6/170 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 ofthe total calls established, were 7/165 for Airtel, 13/148 for BSNL 4/167 RJIL and 12/167 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 109. 79 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 10. 96 Mbps for BSNL (3G), 244.03 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 22.62 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 22.50 Mbps for Airtel (SG/4G), 4.0 Mbps for BSNL (3G), 18.02 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 7.49 Mbps for VIL {5G/4G/2G). Detail of Upload throughput has been provided in the map Annexed. 3Hyderabad to Hindupur Railway: a) Coverage Gap - (i) 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 1205/25211 for Airtel, 8305/23798 for BSNL, 1318/25056 for RJIL and 3311/24771 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed. (ii) 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 Limited Service (NO Coverage) out of the total samples collected, was 5/25211 for Airtel, 463/23798 for BSNL, 83/25056 for RJIL and 190/24771 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 0/126 for Airtel, 28/134 for BSNL, 2/127 for RJIL and 8/126 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 25.16 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 10.61 Mbps for BSNL (3G), 119.61 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 19.87 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 9.38 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 6.02 Mbps for BSNL (3G), 10.41 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 9.69 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. 7. Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT is as under:­ a) Highway- Hindupur to Hyderabad passing through Anantapur, Dhone, Kurnool and Jadcherla etc. b) Railway- Hyderabad to Hindupur passing through Jadcherla, Kurnool Town, Dhone Junction, Gooty Junction, Anantapura and Dharmavaram Junction etc. 8. 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.hydreabad@trai.qov.in or Regional ffice of TRAI can be contacted on telephone no. 040-23000761. ee Kumar Advisor, RO Hyderabad 41. Hindupur to Hyderabad Highway: Annexure 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 33655 32128 33289 33216 Number of Samples having poor signal strength 427 7003 751 4021 Number of Samples having limited service (No Coverage) 0 94 0 35 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 A IRTEL BSNL 1RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only. 2b) 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 169 169 169 170 Number of dropped Calls 0 15 0 6 Locations of Dropped Calls VIL B SNL 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. 3c) 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 165 148 167 167 (within service provider network) Number of silences calls for >3 Sec 5 10 3 7 Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec 7 13 4 12 Locations of Call Silence Instance A IRTEL 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. 4d) 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 RJIL Measured AIRTEL BSNL VIL Parameter (upto 5G) in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) Typical Download throughput (Mbits/s) 16.91 3.00 15.00 15.00 declared by TSP Average Download Throughput measured during (Mbits/s) 109.79 10.96 244.03 22.62 IDT AIRTEL BSN L 5RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only. 6(ii) Upload Throughput RJIL Measured AIRTEL BSNL VIL Parameter (upto 5G) in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) Typical upload throughput (Mbits/s) 4.98 3.00 7.00 8.00 declared by TSP Average Upload Throughput measured during IDT (Mbits/s) 22.50 4.00 18.02 7.49 AIRTEL BSN L 7RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only. 82. Hyderabad to Hindupur Railway: - 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 25211 23798 25056 24771 Number of Samples having poor signal strength 1205 8305 1318 3311 Number of Samples having limited service (No Coverage) 5 463 83 190 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 9RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only. 10b) 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 126 134 127 126 Number of dropped Calls 0 28 2 8 Locations of Dropped Calls BSN RJI L L 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. 11d) 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 RJIL Measured AIRTEL BSNL VIL Parameter (upto 5G) in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) Typical Download throughput (Mbits/s) 16.91 3.00 15.00 15.00 declared by TSP Average Download Throughput measured during (Mbits/s) 25.60 10.61 119.61 19.87 IDT AIRTEL BSN L 12RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only. 13(ii) Upload Throughput RJIL Measured AIRTEL BSNL VIL Parameter (upto 5G) in (upto 5G) (upto 4G) (upto 5G) Typical upload throughput (Mbits/s) 4.98 3.00 7.00 8.00 declared by TSP Average Upload Throughput measured during IDT (Mbits/s) 9.38 6.02 10.41 9.69 AIRTEL BSNL 14RJIL VIL Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only. 15