TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality Across Sindhudurg District and Highway Drive from Pune to Sindhudurg in Maharashtra LSA

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Sindhudurg, Maharashtra LSA, during the month of April 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 - 451.7 Kms, Hotspot locations - 13, Walk Test - 8.5 Kms, Highway - 567.3 Kms in Sindhudurg District during 14^th April 2026 to 17^th April 2026 in Maharashtra LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Bengaluru. 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 instances occurred during the calls.
4. Data Servies: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate

The overall mobile network performance in Sindhudurg District for the key parameters has been summarised below: -

1. Sindhudurg District

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 8630/ 25174 for Airtel, 15234/ 45856 for BSNL, 11473/ 38823 for RJIL and 13307/ 35311 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.
2. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 8/226 for Airtel, 30/399 for BSNL, 21/364 for RJIL and 24/327 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed.
3. 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 17/ 218 for Airtel, 5/ 319 for BSNL, 26/ 330 for RJIL and 11/ 292 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map Annexed.
4. Data Download and Upload Throughput:

i) Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 94.50 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 2.30 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 127.94 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 20.51 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

ii) Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 17.62 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 1.62 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 11.35 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 3.81 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.

2. Highway Drive - Pune to Panaji

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 6273/ 43980 for Airtel, 14318/ 42702 for BSNL, 4189/ 46229 for RJIL and 5897/ 45418 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.
2. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 13/226 for Airtel, 34/226 for BSNL, 10/237 for RJIL and 10/233 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 23/ 216 for Airtel, 9/ 195 for BSNL, 11/ 233 for RJIL and 4/ 232 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map Annexed.
2. Data Download and Upload Throughput:

i) Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 97.74 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.07 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 209.96 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 49.24 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

ii) Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 19.08 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 1.87 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 19.90 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 11.33 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 is as under:-

1. City - The areas covered in the city drive are Kunkeshwar, Devgad, Vadade, Kasal, Kudal, Sawantwadi, Vengurla, Tarkarli, Malvan and Achra etc. in Sindhudurg District.
2. Highway - Pune to Panaji passing through Pirangut, Tamhini, Mangaon, Lonere, Poladpur, Khed, Tural, Sangameshwar, Rajapur, Talere, Kudal and Goa Dabolim International Airport.
3. Hotspot - The hot spot locations, capturing stationary user experience, are Chivla Beach & Rock Garden, Devbagh Beach, Devgad Bus Stand & Beach Area, Kankavli Bus Stand & Market Area, Kankavli College Road to Court Road to Tilak Chowk Loop, Kunkeshwar Temple Area, Malvan Market Area, Mithbav Beach, Oros District Collector Office Area, Sawantwadi Market Area, Sindhudurg Fort (Malvan), Tarkarli Beach, and Vengurla Beach & Jetty Area.

1. Walk Test - The walk tests conducted on 16^th and 17^th April 2026, covered Kudal MIDC Area Internal Roads Loop, Kudal Railway Station Area, Malvan Jetty to Dandi Beach Road to Wayari Area, Sawantwadi Lake Periphery Road Loop, and Vengurla Market Inner Roads to Camp Area Loop. capturing mobile network behaviour in crowded pedestrian environments.

The findings of this IDT report have been shared with respective TSPs for taking further necessary action at their end. Detailed reports of IDT are made available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification or additional information, an email can be sent to [email protected] or Regional Office of TRAI at Bengaluru RO can be contacted on telephone no. +91-80-22865004.

Click here to see Annexure

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NJ/AR