The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the findings of Independent Drive Tests (IDTs) conducted in April 2025 across nine cities and highway corridors in seven Licensed Service Areas (LSAs). The tests assessed the quality of voice and data services (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G) of Bharti Airtel Limited, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, Vodafone Idea Limited, and BSNL/MTNL. Key parameters evaluated included Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), download/upload throughput, latency, and jitter. Palakkad, Varanasi, and Cuttack demonstrated strong network performance, while Delhi and Bihar/Jharkhand LSAs recorded higher Drop Call Rates. CSSR in Gangtok and Pakyong was below the benchmark. The detailed reports are available on the TRAI website.
Key Entities Referenced
QoS: Abbreviation for Quality of Service.
2G: Second generation mobile network technology.
3G: Third generation mobile network technology.
Ministry of Communications: The government ministry responsible for communications.
TRAI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the regulatory body that released the findings.
Independent Drive Tests: A type of test conducted by TRAI to evaluate network performance.
IDT Report for April 2025: The specific report being released, detailing findings from tests conducted in April 2025.
Nine Cities: Refers to the nine cities that were assessed during the Independent Drive Tests
Routes: Refers to the routes that were assessed during the Independent Drive Tests
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi, the source of the press release.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: The full name of TRAI.
IDTs: Abbreviation for Independent Drive Tests.
April 2025: The month and year when the Independent Drive Tests were conducted.
Licensed Service Areas: LSAs, areas for which telecom licenses are granted.
LSAs: Abbreviation for Licensed Service Areas.
Palakkad: One of the cities/regions where tests were conducted.
Varanasi: One of the cities/regions where tests were conducted.
Delhi City Highway: One of the cities/regions where tests were conducted.
Cuttack: One of the cities/regions where tests were conducted.
Jodhpur: One of the cities/regions where tests were conducted.
Patna: One of the cities/regions where tests were conducted.
Gangtok: One of the cities/regions where tests were conducted.
Pakyong: One of the cities/regions where tests were conducted.
Quality of Service: QoS, a metric being audited by TRAI.
4G: Fourth generation mobile network technology.
5G: Fifth generation mobile network technology.
Bharti Airtel Limited: A telecom operator whose network was tested.
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited: A telecom operator whose network was tested.
Vodafone Idea Limited: A telecom operator whose network was tested.
BSNLMTNL: A telecom operator whose network was tested.
Call Setup Success Rate: CSSR, a key parameter assessed for voice services.
CSSR: Abbreviation for Call Setup Success Rate.
Drop Call Rate: DCR, a key parameter assessed for voice services.
DCR: Abbreviation for Drop Call Rate.
Speech Quality MOS: MOS, a key parameter assessed for voice services.
Bihar Jharkhand LSA: Licensed Service Area where higher Drop Call Rates were recorded.
West Bengal LSA: Licensed Service Area where lower Call Setup Success Rates were recorded.
Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti: Chairman of TRAI.
Kerala: State associated with Palakkad.
UP East: Region associated with Varanasi.
Odisha: State associated with Cuttack.
Rajasthan: State associated with Jodhpur.
Bihar: State associated with Patna.
Jharkhand: State associated with Patna.
Shri Tejpal Singh: Advisor QoSI TRAI.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI releases findings from Independent Drive Tests
(IDT) Report for April 2025, Nine Cities and Routes
Assessed
Posted On: 16 JUN 2025 4:16PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today released the results of Independent Drive
Tests (IDTs) conducted in April 2025, covering nine cities and highway corridors in seven Licensed
Service Areas (LSAs). The nine cities and highway corridors fall under Palakkad, Varanasi, Delhi (City
& Highway), Cuttack, Jodhpur, Patna, Gangtok and Pakyong with surrounding districts. These
assessments were part of TRAI’s periodic Quality of Service (QoS) audits, aimed at evaluating real-time
network performance. The tests were carried out using calibrated equipment and standardised protocols,
under direct supervision of TRAI officials across diverse on-ground environments.
The drive tests were undertaken through TRAI-appointed agency and evaluated both voice and data
services across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies. The scope included City Drive tests, Walk tests,
Highway test and hotspot analysis. The networks of Bharti Airtel Limited, Reliance Jio Infocomm
Limited, Vodafone Idea Limited, and BSNL/MTNL were covered in auto-selection and locked mode as
per the requirement of tests.
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.
Key findings of Independent Drive Tests (IDTs) are as under:
a. Palakkad, Varanasi and Cuttack have demonstrated better network performance by all operators
with achievement of ≤ 2% of Drop Call Rate against benchmark. In Varanasi and Jodhpur, all
operators have achieved benchmark of 98% for Call Setup Success Rates (CSSR). Data
Download and Upload speed are also observed better in Palakkad, Varanasi, Cuttack and Jodhpur.
b. Delhi and Bihar & Jharkhand LSA areas have recorded comparatively higher Drop Call Rates,
exceeding the prescribed QoS benchmarks. Data download and upload speed are also observed
relatively lower in these areas in comparison of other area tested in the Drive Test. Call Setup
Success Rates (CSSR) in Gangtok and Pakyong in West Bengal LSA observed below the
benchmark of 98% for all Service providers.
Commenting on the findings, Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, TRAI said: “As India rapidly
transitions into a digitally connected economy, TRAI remains committed to ensuring that service quality
keeps pace with consumer expectations. These IDT results reflect actual user experience, help
benchmark operator performance, and guide necessary network improvements.”
The details of drive tests conducted in the seven LSAs are given below:
Performance
L i c e n s e d Period of Drive
S. No. City / Routes Covered Distance Covered summary
Service Area Test
(attached at)
22-04-2025 to 24- City: 268.4 Kms
1 Palakkad Kerala Annexure A04-2025 Walk Test: 7.6 Kms
22-04-2025 to 25- City: 245.9 Kms
2 Varanasi UP (East) Annexure B
04-2025 Walk Test: 3.2 Kms
Delhi & City: 370.6 Kms
15-04-2025 to 25-
3 Highway: Noida to Delhi Walk Test: 4.4 Kms Annexure C
04-2025
Aligarh Highway: 124.9 Kms
15-04-2025 to 18- City: 331.4 Kms
4 Cuttack Odisha Annexure D
04-2025
28-04-2025 to 01- City: 314.2 Kms
5 Jodhpur Rajasthan Annexure E
05-2025 Walk Test: 2 Kms
Patna & Bihar Sharif,
B i h a r & 01-04-2025 to 08- City: 354.5 Kms
6 Sheikhpura, Munger & Annexure F
Jharkhand 04-2025 Walk Test: 3.1 Kms
Jamui district
23-04-2025 to 25- City: 146.2 Kms
7 Gangtok and Pakyong West Bengal Annexure G
04-2025 Walk Test: 1.2 Kms
The detailed reports are available at TRAI website www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification/information,
Shri Tejpal Singh, Advisor (QoS-I) TRAI may be contacted on email: adv-qos1@trai.gov.in or at Tel.
No. +91-11-20907759.
Click here to see Annexure
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Samrat/Allen
(Release ID: 2136667)