**Executive Summary**
This report details the findings of TRAI's Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted in Puducherry City and its adjoining areas from February 5th to 7th, 2026. The tests assessed mobile network performance across various environments and technologies (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G). The full findings have been communicated to all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scope of Assessment:** The IDT covered extensive city areas, surrounding areas, urban zones, institutional hotspots, and rural residential areas within Puducherry City and the Tamil Nadu Licensed Service Area.
* **Testing Period:** Tests were conducted from February 5th to 7th, 2026, covering 313.2 Kms of drive tests and 8 hotspot locations.
* **Technologies Evaluated:** 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies were assessed.
* **Key Parameters Assessed:**
* **Voice Services:** Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time (CST), Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (Mean Opinion Score - MOS), and Coverage.
* **Data Services:** Download/Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate, and Video Streaming Delay.
* **Overall Network Performance Summary:**
* **Call Setup Success Rate (Auto-selection mode):** Airtel (100.00%), VIL (99.61%), RJIL (98.84%), and BSNL (90.91%).
* **Call Setup Time (Auto-selection mode):** RJIL (0.71s), Airtel (1.15s), VIL (1.86s), and BSNL (4.50s).
* **Drop Call Rate (Auto-selection mode):** Airtel (0.00%), VIL (0.00%), RJIL (0.39%), and BSNL (1.46%).
* **Call Silence/Mute Rate (Packet Switched Network):** Airtel (0.24%), VIL (0.23%), RJIL (0.96%), and BSNL (4.16%).
* **Mean Opinion Score (MOS):** RJIL (4.45), VIL (4.42), Airtel (4.00), and BSNL (3.01).
* **Average Download Speed (Overall):** RJIL (253.84 Mbps), Airtel (163.82 Mbps), VIL (22.05 Mbps), and BSNL (12.71 Mbps).
* **Average Upload Speed (Overall):** Airtel (27.94 Mbps), VIL (13.03 Mbps), RJIL (16.92 Mbps), and BSNL (5.11 Mbps).
* **Latency (50th Percentile Overall):** RJIL (25.94 ms), VIL (32.81 ms), Airtel (41.50 ms), and BSNL (42.47 ms).
* **Poor Signal Strength:**
* **Voice Testing:** Observed in 1.17% (Airtel), 6.93% (BSNL), 2.42% (RJIL), and 1.60% (VIL) of the City IDT route.
* **Data Testing:** Observed in 9.07% (Airtel), 12.16% (BSNL), 15.35% (RJIL), and 6.53% (VIL) of the City IDT route.
* **Detailed Report Availability:** The detailed report is accessible on the TRAI website (www.trai.gov.in).
**Impact Analysis**
* **Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) - Airtel, BSNL, RJIL, VIL**
* **Impact:** TSPs are directly impacted by the findings of the IDT, which highlight their network performance in terms of voice and data services. This assessment will influence their service quality benchmarks and potential improvement strategies.
* **Action Required:** TSPs should review the detailed findings pertaining to their network performance and take necessary corrective actions to improve service quality where deficiencies are identified.
* **Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)**
* **Impact:** TRAI has conducted and released the assessment to fulfill its regulatory mandate of monitoring and ensuring network quality for consumers.
* **Action Required:** TRAI will continue to monitor TSP performance based on these findings and may initiate further regulatory actions or recommendations as deemed necessary.
* **Consumers in Puducherry City and adjoining areas**
* **Impact:** Consumers are the ultimate beneficiaries of improved network quality. The findings provide transparency on the service quality they can expect from different TSPs.
* **Action Required:** Consumers can use this information to make informed decisions about their mobile service providers and to report persistent issues to their respective TSPs or TRAI.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The regulatory body that conducted the network quality assessment.
Tamil Nadu Licensed Service Area (LSA): The geographical area within which the assessment was conducted.
Puducherry City: The primary location of the network quality assessment.
Independent Drive Test (IDT): The specific type of test conducted to assess network quality.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI Assesses Network Quality Across
Puducherry City and their adjoining areas in
Puducherry Union Territory (under Tamil Nadu
Licensed Service Area)
Posted On: 09 MAR 2026 12:41PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released its Independent Drive Test (IDT) findings for
the Tamil Nadu Licensed Service Area (LSA), covering extensive city of Puducherry surrounding areas
in the month of February 2026. The drive tests conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional
Office, Hyderabad, were designed to capture real-world mobile network performance across diverse usage
environments- Urban Zones, Institutional Hotspots, rural residential areas etc.
Between 5th February 2026 to 7th February 2026, TRAI teams conducted detailed tests for 313.2 Kms
Puducherry City drive test and 8 Hotspot locations. Technologies evaluated included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G,
reflecting the service experience of users across multiple handset capabilities. The findings of the IDT
have 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.
The overall mobile network performance in Puducherry city is summarized below:
Call Setup Success Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have 100.00%, 90.91%, 98.84% and 99.61% call
setup success rate respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).
b) Data Services: Download/Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate, and Video Streaming
Delay.
Average download speed of Airtel (5G/4G/2G) is 163.82 Mbps, BSNL (4G/3G/2G) is 12.71 Mbps, RJIL
(5G/4G) is 253.84 Mbps and VIL (4G/2G) is 22.05 Mbps.
CSSR: Call Setup Success Rate (in %), CST: Call Setup Time (in seconds), DCR: Drop Call Rate (in %)
& MOS: Mean Opinion Score.Summary-Voice services Summary-Data services
Call Setup Success Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and Data Download performance (Overall): Average
VIL have 100.00%, 90.91%, 98.84% and 99.61% download speed of Airtel (5G/4G/2G) is 163.82
call setup success rate respectively in Auto- Mbps, BSNL (4G/3G/2G) is 12.71 Mbps, RJIL
selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G). (5G/4G) is 253.84 Mbps and VIL (4G/2G) is 22.05
Mbps.
Call Setup Time: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL
have call setup time of 1.15, 4.50, 0.71 and 1.86 Data Upload performance (Overall): Average
seconds respectively in Auto-selection mode upload speed of Airtel (5G/4G/2G) is 27.94 Mbps,
(5G/4G/3G/2G). BSNL (4G/3G/2G) is 5.11 Mbps, RJIL (5G/4G) is
16.92 Mbps and VIL (4G/2G) is 13.03 Mbps.
Drop Call Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL
have drop call rate of 0.00%, 1.46%, 0.39% and Latency (Overall): Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL
0.00% respectively in Auto-selection mode 50th percentile latency is 41.50 ms, 42.47 ms,
(5G/4G/3G/2G). 25.94 ms & 32.81 ms respectively.
Call Silence/Mute Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and Data performance - Hotspots (in Mbps):
VIL have silence call rate of 0.24%, 4.16%,
Airtel- 4G D/L: 33.84 4G U/L: 11.67
0.96% and 0.23% respectively in packet switched
network (4G/5G). 5G D/L: 230.03 5G U/L: 51.54
Mean Opinion Score (MOS): Airtel, BSNL, RJIL BSNL- 4G D/L: 6.97 4G U/L: 6.90
and VIL have average MOS of 4.00, 3.01, 4.45
RJIL- 4G D/L: 42.08 4G U/L: 7.98
and 4.42 respectively.
5G D/L: 259.37 5G U/L: 13.03
The Poor signal strength in auto-selection mode
VIL- 4G D/L: 17.76 4G U/L: 13.46
(5G/4G/3G/2G) during voice testing has been
observed in 1.17%, 6.93%, 2.42% & 1.60% of Note- “D/L” Download speed, “U/L” Upload
the City IDT route in case of Airtel, BSNL, RJIL speed
and VIL respectively.
The Poor signal strength in auto-selection mode
(5G/4G/3G/2G) during data testing has been
observed in 9.07%, 12.16%, 15.35% & 6.53% of
the City IDT route in case of Airtel, BSNL, RJIL
and VIL respectively.In Puducherry City, the assessment included the areas nearby Semmangalam, Sedarapet, Villianur,
Lawspet, White Town, Muthialpet, Murungapakkam, Ariyankuppam, Thavalakuppam, Embalam, Bahour,
Kanniakoil, Kalapet, Pillaichavady and Bommayapalayam etc.
TRAI also evaluated real-world conditions at 1.Aurobindo Ashram/French Colony 2.Auroville
International Society 3.JIPMER Medical College 4.Pondicherry University 5.Puducherry Airport
6.Puducherry Bus Station 7.Puducherry Railway Station 8.Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and
Children Hospital in Puducherry City to reflect stationary user experience.
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 B. Praveen Kumar, Advisor (Regional Office, Hyderabad) TRAI may be
contacted on email: adv.hyderabad@trai.gov.in or at Tel. No. +91-40-23000761.
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