**Executive Summary**
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released its Independent Drive Test (IDT) findings for Delhi Licensed Service Area (LSA) for January 2026. Tests were conducted between January 6th and 9th, 2026, evaluating 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies across various locations. The findings have been communicated to the concerned Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). The detailed report is available on the TRAI website (www.trai.gov.in).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Test Scope and Methodology**
* Conducted across 249.1 km of City Drive Test and 8 hotspot locations, including a 9.6 km walk test.
* Evaluated technologies included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G.
* Captured real-time mobile network performance in Urban Zones, Institutional Hotspots, Public Transport Hubs, and High-Speed Corridors.
* **Key Parameters Assessed**
* **Voice Services:** Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time, Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS), Coverage.
* **Data Services:** Download/Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate, and Video Streaming Delay.
* **Voice Service Performance (Auto-selection mode: 5G/4G/3G/2G)**
* **Call Setup Success Rate:** Airtel (100.00%), MTNL (82.82%), RJIL (99.22%), VIL (100.00%).
* **Drop Call Rate:** Airtel (0.39%), MTNL (6.34%), RJIL (0.53%), VIL (0.00%).
* **Call Setup Time (seconds):** Airtel (0.79), MTNL (3.20), RJIL (0.63), VIL (0.56).
* **Call Silence/Mute Rate (4G/5G packet switched network):** Airtel (0.00%), RJIL (2.23%), VIL (6.61%).
* **Mean Opinion Score (MOS):** Airtel (4.03), MTNL (2.75), RJIL (4.46), VIL (4.40).
* **Data Service Performance (Overall)**
* **Average Download Speed (Mbps):** Airtel (5G/4G - 231.97), MTNL (3G - 3.83), RJIL (5G/4G - 266.99), VIL (5G/4G/2G - 24.55).
* **Average Upload Speed (Mbps):** Airtel (5G/4G - 31.39), MTNL (3G - 1.04), RJIL (5G/4G - 23.93), VIL (5G/4G/2G - 11.00).
* **Latency (50th Percentile, ms):** Airtel (20.80), MTNL (21.65), RJIL (20.62), VIL (38.98).
* **Data Service Performance (Hotspots, Mbps)**
* Airtel: 4G D/L (22.72), 4G U/L (4.79); 5G D/L (214.10), 5G U/L (29.95).
* RJIL: 4G D/L (41.50), 4G U/L (13.97); 5G D/L (361.84), 5G U/L (31.96).
* VIL: 4G D/L (22.27), 4G U/L (6.67); 5G D/L (44.13), 5G U/L (29.46).
* **Note:** 4G and 5G technologies were not observed in MTNL.
* **Areas Covered**
* High-density neighborhoods in Delhi, including Bhajanpura, Shahdara, Dilshad Garden, and others.
* Specific locations like Amity International School, Bhai Parmanand Institute, and various metro stations and hospitals.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
* **Impact:** The findings provide an assessment of their network performance in Delhi.
* **Action Required:** Review the findings, address areas of underperformance, and potentially optimize their networks.
**Stakeholder: TRAI**
* **Impact:** Results contribute to monitoring and enforcing quality of service standards.
* **Action Required:** Use the data to inform regulatory decisions and ensure consumer protection.
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* **Impact:** Provides insights into the network performance of different providers, potentially influencing their choice of provider.
* **Action Required:** Review the results and consider them when selecting or changing mobile service providers.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The regulator that released the Independent Drive Test (IDT) findings for the Delhi Licensed Service Area.
Delhi: The city where network quality was assessed.
Independent Drive Test (IDT): The study conducted by TRAI to assess mobile network performance.
Delhi Licensed Service Area (LSA): The specific area covered by the network quality assessment.
Ministry of Communications: The ministry under which TRAI functions, as indicated in the document header.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI Assesses Network Quality Across Delhi City
Posted On: 24 FEB 2026 2:51PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released its Independent Drive Test (IDT) findings for
the Delhi Licensed Service Area (LSA), covering extensive city routes during the month of Jan 2026. The
drive tests, conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office, Delhi, were designed to capture
real-time mobile network performance across diverse usage environments – Urban Zones, Institutional
Hotspots, Public Transport Hubs, and High-Speed Corridors.
Between 06th January 2026 to 09th January 2026, TRAI teams conducted detailed tests across 249.1 Kms
of City Drive Test, 08 Hotspot locations, 9.6 Kms of Walk test & Inter Operator Calling at 01 location.
Technologies evaluated included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, reflecting the service experience of users across
multiple handset capabilities. The findings of IDT have already been intimated to all the TSPs concerned.
Key Parameters Assessed:
a) Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time, Call Silence
Rate, Speech Quality (MOS), Coverage.
b) Data Services: Download/Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate and Video Streaming
Delay.
Call Setup Success Rate: Airtel, MTNL, RJIL and VIL have 100.00%, 82.82%, 99.22% and 100.00%
Call Setup Success Rate respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).
Drop Call Rate: Airtel, MTNL, RJIL and VIL have Drop Call Rate of 0.39%, 6.34%, 0.53% and 0.00%
respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).
Performance against key QoS parameters
CSSR: Call Setup Success Rate (in %), CST: Call Setup Time (in seconds), DCR: Drop Call Rate (in %)
& MOS: Mean Opinion Score.Summary-Voice services
Call Setup Success Rate: Airtel, MTNL, RJIL and VIL have 100.00%, 82.82%, 99.22% and 100.00%,
call setup success rate respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).
Call Setup Time: Airtel, MTNL, RJIL & VIL have call setup time of 0.79, 3.20, 0.63 and 0.56 seconds
respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).
Drop Call Rate: Airtel, MTNL, RJIL and VIL have drop call rate 0.39%, 6.34%, 0.53% and 0.00%
respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).
Call Silence/Mute Rate: Airtel, RJIL and VIL have silence call rate 0.00%, 2.23% and 6.61%
respectively in packet switched network (4G/5G).
Mean Opinion Score (MOS): Airtel, MTNL, RJIL and VIL have average MOS of 4.03, 2.75, 4.46 and
4.40 respectively.
Summary-Data services
Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed of Airtel (5G/4G) is 231.97 Mbps,
MTNL (3G) is 3.83 Mbps, RJIL (5G/4G) is 266.99 Mbps and VIL (5G/4G/2G) is 24.55 Mbps.
Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed of Airtel (5G/4G) is 31.39 Mbps, MTNL
(3G) is 1.04 Mbps, RJIL (5G/4G) is 23.93 Mbps and VIL (5G/4G/2G) is 11.00 Mbps.
Latency (Overall): Airtel, MTNL, RJIL and VIL 50th percentile latency is 20.80 ms, 21.65 ms, 20.62
ms, 38.98 ms respectively.
Data performance - Hotspots (in Mbps):
Airtel- 4G D/L: 22.72 4G U/L: 4.79
5G D/L: 214.10 5G U/L: 29.95
RJIL- 4G D/L: 41.50 4G U/L: 13.97
5G D/L: 361.84 5G U/L: 31.96
VIL- 4G D/L: 22.27 4G U/L: 6.67
5G D/L: 44.13 5G U/L: 29.46
Note- “D/L” Download speed, “U/L” Upload speed. 4G & 5G technology have not been observed
in MTNL.
The assessment in Delhi City included high-density neighbourhoods such as Bhajanpura, Shahdara,
Dilshad Garden, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Anand Vihar, Patparganj, I.P. Extension, Mayur Vihar
Phase III and Khichripur etc. TRAI also evaluated real-time conditions at Amity International School
Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Bhai Parmanand Institute of Business Studies Shakarpur, Chacha Nehru Bal
Chikitsalaya Raja Ram Kohli Marg Geeta Colony, Dilshad Garden Metro Station, Karkardooma Court,
Max Super Speciality Hospital Patparganj, Shahdara Metro Station & V3S Mall Laxmi Nagar.
The walk test, conducted on 08th January 2026 in Delhi City, focused on, Anand Vihar Railway Station
and Nearby Area Including ISBT, Gandhi Nagar Market, Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, capturing
mobile network behaviour in crowded pedestrian environments.The tests were conducted using TRAI suggested equipment and standardised protocols in real-time
environments. The detailed report is available at TRAI website www.trai.gov.in. For any
clarification/information, Shri Vivek Khare, Advisor (Regional Office, Delhi) TRAI may be contacted on
email: adv.ca@trai.gov.in or at Tel. No. +91-11-20907772.
****
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