TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality across Bharuch city and nearby areas (in Gujarat LSA)

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Bharuch city and nearby areas (in Gujarat LSA), during the month of May 2026, for information of general telecom consumers. The purpose of this drive test is to assess and verify real time quality of mobile network services (both voice & data) provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). During the IDT, TRAI captures performance of TSPs for key Quality of Service (QoS) parameters like Coverage, Call Drop Rate (CDR), Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), data Download (DL) and Upload (UL) throughput etc., which are then published to inform Consumers and encourage TSPs to improve their services.

These IDTs have been designed to capture on ground mobile network performance of all TSPs across diverse usages environment like cities, hotspots, public transport hubs, etc. In this type of drive testing, live data and voice sessions are established using SIM cards from all TSPs over 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. Multiple advanced test handsets are used, and the sessions are monitored and analysed in real-time using advanced Software Systems.

TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted drive tests across City drive - 361.2 KMs, Hotspot locations - 11 and Walk Test - 1.5 KMs in Bharuch city and nearby areas during 5^th May 2026 to 8^th May 2026 in Gujarat LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Jaipur. The observations presented in drive test reports represent the performance of the TSPs on the area/ route under test on the day/ time of conducting the drive test.

Drive Test Route Map: The following map provides overview of drive test routes indicating City drive, Inter-operator calling, Hotspots and Walk tests, as per the legends shown on the map: -

Key Parameters Assessed

1. Coverage Gap: Percentage of samples, for which signal strength observed less than the minimum prescribed signal strength for respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G).
2. Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time, Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS).
3. Call Silence Instance: Number of call silence instance occurred during the calls.
4. Data Servies: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate.

The overall mobile network performance in Bharuch city and nearby areas for the key parameters has been summarised below:

1. Coverage Gap - The signal strength observed during voice testing on the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G), measured as the number of samples having poor signal strength out of the total samples collected, was 618/42053 for Airtel, 3289/40866 for BSNL, 377/42071 for RJIL and 1311/41818 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.

1. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 0/378 for Airtel, 10/365 for BSNL, 1/380 for RJIL and 0/380 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed.

1. Call Silence Instance - Call silence instances, measured as the total number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total calls established, were 6/365 for Airtel, 41/309 for BSNL, 4/366 for RJIL and 28/363 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map Annexed.

1. Data Download and Upload Throughput:

1. Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 117.72 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 12.93 Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G/2G), 180.22 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 31.14 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

1. Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 24.53 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 4.59 Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G/2G), 24.09 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 17.38 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of upload throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

Locations of Dropped Calls and Call Silence instances can be seen by clicking red dot on the map Annexed.

Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT are as under: -

City - Derol, Samni, Vagara, Pakhajan, Galenda, Dahej, Lakhigam, Luvara, Ambetha, Jolva, Eksal, Dehgam, Andada, Ankleshwar, Kosamdi, Govali Bet, Jhanor, Nabipur, Palej and Tankariya etc.

Hotspot-- Ankleshwar GSRTC Bus Stand, Ankleshwar Railway Station , Bharuch GSRTC Bus Stand, Bharuch Railway Station, City Centre Bharuch, Civil Hospital Bharuch, Collector Office Bharuch, Inox Shalimar Mall, Matariya Talav, Panchbatti Chauraha, Zadeshwar Chaukdi.

Walk Test-- Soneri Mahal to Dhodhi Kui Bazaar.

The findings of this IDT report have been shared with respective TSPs for taking further necessary action at their end, if required. Detailed report of IDT is made available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification or additional information, an email can be sent to Regional office of TRAI at Jaipur on Email id [email protected] Regional Office of TRAI at Jaipur RO can be contacted on telephone no. 0141-2701919.

Click here to see Annexure

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NJ/ARJ