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

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Information Note to the Press (Press Release No 93/2026)

TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA

www.trai.gov.in

New Delhi, 16 July 2026

For Immediate Release

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.

2. 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.

3. 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 14th April 2026 to 17th 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.

4. 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: -

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5. Key Parameters Assessed

a) Coverage Gap: Percentage of samples, for which signal strength observed less than

the minimum prescribed signal strength for respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G).

b) Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup

Time, Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS).

c) Call Silence Instance: Number of call silence instances occurred during the calls.

d) Data Servies: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate

6. The overall mobile network performance in Sindhudurg District for the key parameters has

been summarised below: -

1. Sindhudurg District

a) 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.

b) 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.

c) 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.

d) 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

a) 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.

b) 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.

c) 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

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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.

d) 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.

7. Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT is as under:-

a) City - The areas covered in the city drive are Kunkeshwar, Devgad, Vadade, Kasal,

Kudal, Sawantwadi, Vengurla, Tarkarli, Malvan and Achra etc. in Sindhudurg District.

b) Highway - Pune to Panaji passing through Pirangut, Tamhini, Mangaon, Lonere,

Poladpur, Khed, Tural, Sangameshwar, Rajapur, Talere, Kudal and Goa Dabolim

International Airport.

c) 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.

d) Walk Test - The walk tests conducted on 16th and 17th 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.

8. 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 adv.bengaluru@trai.gov.in or Regional Office of TRAI at Bengaluru RO can be

contacted on telephone no. +91-80-22865004.

Advisor, TRAI RO Bengaluru

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Annexure

1. Sindhudurg District

a) Coverage Gap – The coverage distribution found less than the minimum specified

signal strength for the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during

voice testing, is as below:

Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL

Total Number of Samples captured on Drive test

route 25174 45856 38823 35311

Number of Samples having poor signal strength 8630 15234 11473 13307

Number of Samples having limited service (No

Coverage) 16867 1628 7101 10172

Note: Signal strength has been considered poor if it falls below −110 dBm for 5G & 4G, −90

dBm for 3G, and −85 dBm for 2G.

Coverage Gap observed

Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.

RJIL VIL

AIRTEL BSNL

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b) Dropped Calls - The TSP-wise details of dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/

3G/ 2G) are as below:

Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL

Number of successful Calls Established 226 399 364 327

Number of dropped Calls 8 30 21 24

Locations of Dropped Calls

Note: Dropped calls locations are shown in red colour and which can be clicked to know

the exact location (latitude and longitude) on the map.

VIL

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL

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c) Call Silence Instance - The TSP-wise details of Call silence instance in Auto-selection

mode (5G/4G) are as below:

Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL

Call Established

(within service provider network) 218 319 330 292

Number of silences calls for >3 Sec 17 5 26 11

Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec 19 5 33 19

Locations of Call Silence Instance

Note: Call silence instances are shown in red colour and which can be clicked to know

the exact location (latitude and longitude) on the map.

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL VIL

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d) Data Download and Upload throughput: The TSP-wise details of Average Download

(DL) and Upload (UL) throughput against declared typical DL/UL Throughput for

month, in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) are as below:

(i) Download Throughput

Parameter Measured

in

AIRTEL

(upto 5G)

BSNL

(upto 4G)

RJIL

(upto 5G)

VIL

(upto 4G)

Typical Download

throughput declared by TSP (Mbits/s) 9.22 5.00 15.00 15.00

Average Download

Throughput measured

during IDT

(Mbits/s) 94.50 2.30 127.94 20.51

Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.

(ii) Upload Throughput

AIRTEL BSNL

VILRJIL

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Parameter Measured

in

AIRTEL

(upto 5G)

BSNL

(upto 4G)

RJIL

(upto 5G)

VIL

(upto 4G)

Typical upload throughput

declared by TSP (Mbits/s) 5.58 3.00 7.00 8.00

Average Upload Throughput

measured during IDT (Mbits/s) 17.62 1.62 11.35 3.81

Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.

AIRTEL BSNL

VILRJIL

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2. Pune to Panaji

a) Coverage Gap – The coverage distribution found less than the minimum specified

signal strength for the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during

voice testing, is as below:

Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL

Total Number of Samples captured on Drive test

route 43980 42702 46229 45418

Number of Samples having poor signal strength 6273 14318 4189 5897

Number of Samples having limited service (No

Coverage) 1465 2255 366 659

Note: Signal strength has been considered poor if it falls below −110 dBm for 5G & 4G, −90

dBm for 3G, and −85 dBm for 2G.

Coverage Gap observed

Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.

VIL

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL

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b) Dropped Calls - The TSP-wise details of dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/

3G/ 2G) are as below:

Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL

Number of successful Calls Established 226 226 237 233

Number of dropped Calls 13 34 10 10

Locations of Dropped Calls

Note: Dropped calls locations are shown in red colour and which can be clicked to know

the exact location (latitude and longitude) on the map.

VIL

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL

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c) Call Silence Instance - The TSP-wise details of Call silence instance in Auto-selection

mode (5G/4G) are as below:

Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL

Call Established

(within service provider network) 216 195 233 232

Number of silences calls for >3 Sec 23 9 11 4

Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec 32 12 18 6

Locations of Call Silence Instance

Note: Call silence instances are shown in red colour and which can be clicked to know

the exact location (latitude and longitude) on the map.

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL VIL

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d) Data Download and Upload throughput: The TSP-wise details of Average Download

(DL) and Upload (UL) throughput against declared typical DL/UL Throughput for

month, in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) are as below:

(i) Download Throughput

Parameter Measured

in

AIRTEL

(upto 5G)

BSNL

(upto 4G)

RJIL

(upto 5G)

VIL

(upto 5G)

Typical Download

throughput declared by TSP (Mbits/s) 9.22 5.00 15.00 15.00

Average Download

Throughput measured

during IDT

(Mbits/s) 97.74 5.07 209.96 49.24

Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.

AIRTEL BSNL

VILRJIL

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(ii) Upload Throughput

Parameter Measure

d in

AIRTEL

(upto 5G)

BSNL

(upto 4G)

RJIL

(upto 5G)

VIL

(upto 5G)

Typical upload throughput

declared by TSP (Mbits/s) 5.58 3.00 7.00 8.00

Average Upload Throughput

measured during IDT (Mbits/s) 19.08 1.87 19.90 11.33

Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only.

AIRTEL BSNL

VILRJIL