**Executive Summary**
This report details the findings of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) Independent Drive Test conducted from March 23 to 25, 2026, across Warangal City and adjoining areas. The assessment evaluated 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G network performance for major Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) across 375.3 kilometers and eight specific hotspot locations. Findings have been communicated to the respective service providers to address identified performance gaps in voice and data services.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Test Scope and Methodology**
* Tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office, Hyderabad, covering urban zones, institutional hotspots, and rural residential areas.
* The evaluation included 375.3 km of drive tests and assessments at eight key hotspots, including Hanamkonda Bus Stand, Kakatiya University, and Warangal Railway Station.
* Technologies assessed included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G to reflect diverse user experiences and handset capabilities.
**Voice Service Performance**
* **Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR):** Airtel achieved a 100% success rate, followed by VIL (99.08%), RJIL (97.95%), and BSNL (96.11%).
* **Drop Call Rate (DCR):** BSNL recorded a high drop call rate of 17.87%, while Airtel and VIL maintained 0.00%.
* **Speech Quality:** RJIL recorded the highest Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of 4.46, while BSNL recorded the lowest at 2.97.
* **Signal Strength:** Poor signal strength during voice testing was most significant for BSNL, affecting 22.12% of the tested route.
**Data Service Performance**
* **Download Speeds:** RJIL recorded the highest average download speed (260.01 Mbps), followed by Airtel (161.18 Mbps); BSNL recorded the lowest (8.32 Mbps).
* **Upload Speeds:** Airtel led with an average upload speed of 25.35 Mbps, while BSNL recorded 3.07 Mbps.
* **Latency:** RJIL showed the lowest latency at 21.94 ms, compared to BSNL’s highest latency of 57.81 ms.
* **5G Performance at Hotspots:** RJIL reached 5G download speeds of 338.42 Mbps, and Airtel reached 196.34 Mbps at evaluated hotspot locations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Service Providers (Airtel, BSNL, RJIL, VIL)**
**Impact**
TSPs have been provided with objective performance data highlighting specific service failures, such as BSNL’s high drop call rates and general signal coverage gaps across the Warangal route.
**Action Required**
TSPs must review the findings intimated by TRAI and implement technical improvements to optimize network coverage and service quality.
**Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)**
**Impact**
TRAI has fulfilled its oversight role by capturing real-world mobile network performance data to ensure transparency in the Andhra Pradesh Licensed Service Area.
**Action Required**
The regulator has made the detailed report available on its official website and remains available for clarifications via the Regional Office in Hyderabad.
**Mobile Consumers in Warangal and Surrounding Areas**
**Impact**
Consumers are provided with transparent, comparative data regarding the reliability and speed of different service providers in their specific geographic region.
**Action Required**
No specific action is required, but consumers can use these findings to make informed decisions regarding their choice of service provider and technology (e.g., 4G vs. 5G).
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The primary regulatory body responsible for overseeing and assessing mobile network performance and service quality standards in India.
Independent Drive Test (IDT): A technical testing initiative conducted by TRAI to evaluate real-world mobile network quality across various technologies including 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G.
Andhra Pradesh Licensed Service Area (LSA): The specific telecommunications administrative jurisdiction encompassing the regions of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where the network assessment was focused.
Warangal, Telangana: The central geographic location and surrounding areas where the mobile network performance findings were specifically recorded and analyzed.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI Assesses Network Quality Across Warangal
City and adjoining areas in Telangana State
(under Andhra Pradesh Licensed Service Area)
Posted On: 28 APR 2026 12:30PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released its Independent Drive Test (IDT) findings for
the Andhra Pradesh Licensed Service Area (LSA), covering extensive city of Warangal and surrounding
areas in the month of March 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 23rd March 2026 to 25th March 2026, TRAI teams conducted detailed tests for 375.3 Kms
Warangal 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 Warangal city is summarized below:
Call Setup Success Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have 100 %, 96.11%, 97.95% and 99.08% 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 161.18 Mbps, BSNL (4G/3G/2G) is 8.32 Mbps, RJIL
(5G/4G) is 260.01 Mbps and VIL (4G/2G) is 27.83 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 Data Download performance (Overall): Average
and VIL have 100.00, 96.11%, 97.95% and download speed of Airtel (5G/4G/2G) is 161.18
99.08% call setup success rate respectively in Mbps, BSNL (4G/3G/2G) is 8.32 Mbps, RJIL
Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G). (5G/4G) is 260.01 Mbps and VIL (4G/2G) is 27.83
Mbps.
Call Setup Time: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL
have call setup time of 0.93, 1.69, 0.77 and 0.67 Data Upload performance (Overall): Average
seconds respectively in Auto-selection mode upload speed of Airtel (5G/4G/2G) is 25.35 Mbps,
(5G/4G/3G/2G). BSNL (4G/3G/2G) is 3.07 Mbps, RJIL (5G/4G) is
19.48 Mbps and VIL (4G/2G) is 9.02 Mbps.
Drop Call Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL
have drop call rate of 0.00%, 17.87%, 0.70% and Latency (Overall): Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL
0.00% respectively in Auto-selection mode 50th percentile latency is 38.36 ms, 57.81 ms,
(5G/4G/3G/2G). 21.94 ms & 43.70 ms respectively.
Call Silence/Mute Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and Data performance - Hotspots (in Mbps):
VIL have silence call rate of 0.58%, 2.36%,
Airtel- 4G D/L: 40.48 4G U/L: 16.72
0.29% and 2.33% respectively in packet switched
network (4G/5G). 5G D/L: 196.34 5G U/L: 36.71
Mean Opinion Score (MOS): Airtel, BSNL, BSNL- 4G D/L: 8.07 4G U/L: 7.12
RJIL and VIL have average MOS of 3.98, 2.97,
RJIL- 4G D/L: 67.16 4G U/L: 14.40
4.46 and 3.76 respectively.
5G D/L: 338.42 5G U/L: 20.49
The Poor signal strength in auto-selection
VIL- 4G D/L: 38.01 4G U/L: 12.40
mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during voice testing has
been observed in 0.68%, 22.12%, 1.54% & Note- “D/L” Download speed, “U/L”
7.16% of the City IDT route in case of Airtel,
Upload speed
BSNL, RJIL and VIL respectively.
The Poor signal strength in auto-selection mode
(5G/4G/3G/2G) during data testing has been
observed in 10.99%, 29.61%, 13.22% &
11.46% of the City IDT route in case of Airtel,
BSNL, RJIL and VIL respectively.In Warangal City, the assessment included the areas nearby Kazipet, Hasanparthy, Hanamkonda, Subedari,
Warangal, Mamnoor, Ashalapally, Theegarajupally, Gandhi Nagar, Yelgur, Mondrai, Pallaguda,
Machchapur, Ghanpur, Uppugal, Raghunathapalle, Zaffergadh, Dammannapet, Madikonda,
Chinnapendyala, Inavolu, Yellanda, hasaparthy and Arepally etc.
TRAI also evaluated real-world conditions at 1. Girmajipet (Warangal Chowrastha), 2. Hanamkonda Bus
Stand, 3. Kakatiya Medical College, 4. Kakatiya University, 5. MGM Hospital Warangal, 6. NIT
Warangal, 7. Reddy Colony (Road No: 2) and 8. Warangal Railway Station in Warangal 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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