Date: 2026-04-21Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
TRAI Assesses Network Quality of Mobile Service Operators across Hardoi & Shahjahanpur Cities and nearby areas and Varanasi to Prayagraj Railway of UP (East) LSA
**Executive Summary**
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) conducted Independent Drive Tests (IDT) between February 16 and February 20, 2026, to assess mobile network quality in the UP (East) LSA, specifically covering Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, and the Varanasi-Prayagraj railway route. The tests evaluated 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies across voice and data parameters for major service providers. The findings have been communicated to the concerned Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) for necessary corrective action.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Test Methodology and Scope**
* **Coverage:** Tests spanned 426.0 Kms of city roads, 123.2 Kms of railway routes, and 4.2 Kms of walk tests.
* **Environments:** Data was captured across urban zones, hotspots, and public transport hubs to reflect real-world performance.
* **Technologies:** Evaluations included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks across various handset capabilities.
**Voice Service Performance**
* **Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR):** RJIL achieved a 100% success rate, followed by Airtel (99.86%), VIL (99.44%), and BSNL (91.23%).
* **Drop Call Rate (DCR):** VIL recorded the best performance at 0.00%, while BSNL recorded the highest failure rate at 2.75%.
* **Call Setup Time:** Connection times ranged from 0.65 seconds (RJIL) to 3.93 seconds (BSNL).
* **Speech Quality (MOS):** Average Mean Opinion Scores ranged from a high of 4.42 (RJIL) to a low of 2.54 (BSNL).
**Data Service Performance**
* **Download Speeds:** RJIL recorded the highest average download speed at 158.48 Mbps; BSNL recorded the lowest at 6.77 Mbps.
* **Upload Speeds:** Average upload speeds varied from 20.53 Mbps (RJIL) to 2.92 Mbps (BSNL).
* **Latency:** RJIL showed the lowest latency at 19.88 ms, while Airtel recorded the highest at 42.63 ms.
* **5G Performance at Hotspots:** RJIL reached download speeds of 142.48 Mbps, while Airtel reached 125.73 Mbps.
**Network Coverage and Signal Strength**
* **City Voice Testing:** Poor signal strength was observed in 23.62% of BSNL’s route and 15.47% of VIL’s route.
* **Railway Route:** Signal strength issues were prominent on the Varanasi-Prayagraj line, with BSNL showing poor signal in 39.67% of voice tests and 36.29% of data tests.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Service Providers (Airtel, BSNL, RJIL, and VIL)**
**Impact**
The TSPs are identified as having varying levels of compliance with Quality of Service (QoS) parameters. Specifically, providers like BSNL and VIL face significant challenges regarding signal strength and call drop rates in specific areas.
**Action Required**
TSPs must review the detailed findings intimated by TRAI and implement necessary technical improvements to address gaps in coverage, call success rates, and data throughput.
**Mobile Service Consumers (UP East LSA)**
**Impact**
Users in Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, and on the Varanasi-Prayagraj railway route are subject to inconsistent service quality, particularly regarding 5G speeds and voice call reliability.
**Action Required**
No direct action is required, but the report provides transparency regarding the service experience and performance levels of their respective providers.
**Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)**
**Impact**
TRAI acts as the monitoring body, using these tests to ensure transparency and accountability in the telecommunications sector.
**Action Required**
TRAI will continue to monitor the situation and provide detailed reports via their website to ensure TSPs adhere to standardized protocols.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The primary regulatory body that conducted Independent Drive Tests to assess mobile network performance and service quality.
Independent Drive Tests (IDT): The standardized assessment initiative used to capture real-world performance of 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks across urban zones and transit hubs.
UP (East) Licensed Service Area (LSA): The specific geographic scope of the network assessment, covering Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, and the Varanasi to Prayagraj railway route.
Telecom Service Providers (TSPs): The regulated entities, specifically Airtel, BSNL, RJIL (Jio), and VIL (Vi), whose voice and data service quality were evaluated.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI Assesses Network Quality of Mobile
Service Operators across Hardoi & Shahjahanpur
Cities and nearby areas and Varanasi to
Prayagraj Railway of UP (East) LSA
Posted On: 21 APR 2026 5:14PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has conducted Independent Drive Tests (IDT)
covering Hardoi & Shahjahanpur Cities and nearby areas and Varanasi to Prayagraj Railway Route of UP
(East) LSA during the month of February ’2026. The IDT have been designed to capture real-world
mobile network performance across diverse usage environments –Urban zones, hotspots, public transport
hubs etc.
TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted detailed drive tests of 426.0 Kms of City test, 123.2 Kms
of Railway test and 4.2 kms of walk test in Hardoi & Shahjahanpur Cities and Varanasi to Prayagraj
Railway during 16th February to 20th February ’2026. Technologies evaluated included 2G, 3G, 4G, and
5G, reflecting the service experience of users across multiple handset capabilities. The findings of IDT
have been intimated to all the TSPs concerned for further necessary action.
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, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have 99.86%, 91.23%, 100.00% and 99.44%, call
setup success rate respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).
Drop Call Rate - Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have drop call rate of 0.14%, 2.75, 0.56% and 0.00%
respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).
• The poor Signal Strength in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during voice testing has been observed
as 3.18%, 23.62%, 3.91% & 15.47% in the City Drive Test Route in case of Airtel, BSNL, RJIL & VIL
respectively.
• The poor Signal Strength in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during data testing has been observed
as 15.20%, 31.13%, 18.18% & 32.37% in the City Drive Test Route in case of Airtel, BSNL, RJIL & VIL
respectively.
• The poor Signal Strength in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during voice testing has been observed
in 2.19%, 39.67%, 1.44% & 14.75% of the Railway Drive Test Route in case of Airtel, BSNL, RJIL &
VIL respectively.• The poor Signal Strength in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during data testing has been observed
in 11.66%, 36.29%, 9.39% & 21.17% of the Railway Drive Test Route in case of Airtel, BSNL, RJIL &
VIL respectively.
Summary of Performance against key QoS parameters
CSSR: Call Setup Success Rate (in %), CST: Call Setup Time (in milli seconds), DCR: Drop Call Rate
(in %) & MOS: Mean Opinion ScoreSummary-Voice services Summary-Data services
Call Setup Success Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL Data Download performance (Overall): Average
and VIL have 99.86%, 91.23%, 100.00% and download speed of Airtel (5G/4G/2G) is 102.77
99.44%, call setup success rate respectively in Mbps, BSNL (4G/3G/2G) is 6.77 Mbps, RJIL
Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G). (5G/4G) is 158.48 Mbps and VIL (4G/2G) is 38.39
Mbps.
Call Setup Time: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL & VIL
have call setup time of 1.21, 3.93, 0.65 and Data Upload performance (Overall): Average
1.20 seconds respectively in Auto-selection upload speed of Airtel (5G/4G/2G) is 17.25 Mbps,
mode (5G/4G/3G/2G). BSNL (4G/3G/2G) is 2.92 Mbps, RJIL (5G/4G) is
20.53 Mbps and VIL (4G/2G) is 10.33 Mbps.
Drop Call Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL
have drop call rate of 0.14%, 2.75, 0.56% and Latency (Overall): Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL 50th
0.00% respectively in Auto-selection mode percentile latency is 42.63 ms, 37.56 ms, 19.88 ms,
(5G/4G/3G/2G). 32.61 ms respectively.
Call Silence/Mute Rate: Airtel, RJIL and VIL Data performance - Hotspots (in Mbps):
have silence call rate of 0.60%, 0.80% and
Airtel- 4G D/L: 35.88 4G U/L: 5.51
4.33% respectively in packet switched network
(4G/5G). 5G D/L: 125.73 5G U/L: 37.63
Mean Opinion Score (MOS): Airtel, BSNL, BSNL- 4G D/L: 4.68 4G U/L: 5.12
RJIL and VIL have average MOS of 3.95,
RJIL- 4G D/L: 41.60 4G U/L: 14.39
2.54, 4.42 and 4.25 respectively.
5G D/L: 142.48 5G U/L: 14.88
VIL- 4G D/L: 28.17 4G U/L: 10.31
Note- “D/L” Download speed, “U/L” Upload
speed
The tests were conducted using TRAI-calibrated equipment and standardized protocols in real-time
environments. The detailed report is available at TRAI website www.trai.gov.in. For any
clarification/information, Shri Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Advisor (Regional Office, Bhopal) TRAI may be
contacted on email: adv.bhopal@trai.gov.in or at Tel. No. +91-755-2575501.
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