TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality Across in Kasaragod District, Kerala LSA.

Information Note to the Press (Press Release No 94/2026)

TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA

www.trai.gov.in

New Delhi, 16 July, 2026

For Immediate Release

TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality Across in Kasaragod District, Kerala LSA.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent

Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Kasaragod District, Kerala 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.

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 – 414.2

KMs, Hotspot locations - 12, Walk Test - 6.5 KMs and Costal - 10.0 KMs in Kasaragod District

during 5th May 2026 to 8th May 2026 in Kerala 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:-

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 instance occurred during the calls.

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

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

has been summarised below:-

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 2105/46617 for

Airtel, 3203/46207 for BSNL, 1252/45532 for RJIL and 2105/47035 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 1/419 for Airtel, 18/402 for

BSNL, 0/421 for RJIL and 1/421 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

6/ 403 for Airtel, 16/ 368 for BSNL, 4/ 405 for RJIL and 10/ 404 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 139.44 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 10.73 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 294.88

Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 18.85 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

23.36 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 3.78 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 22.81 Mbps for RJIL

(5G/4G) and 8.18 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 Manjeshwar, Uppala, Kumbla,

Kasaragod, Kalnad, Kanhangad, Nileshwar, Cheruvathur, Thrikaripur, Cheemeni,

Bheemanady, Rajapuram, Kuttikol, Panayal, Poinachi, Cherkala, Mulleria,

Badiyadka, Seethangoli and Paivalike etc. in Kasaragod District.

b) Coastal - Kottapuram Boat Terminal- Azhithala - Medakkera Fishing Harbour -

Nileswar Baoting Terminal passing through The Lotus Houseboat, Thaikadappuram

Boat Jetty and Achamthuruthy etc.

c) Hotspot - The hot spot locations, capturing stationary user experience, are Bekal

Fort, Cheruvathur Bus Stand, CPCRI Kasaragod, District Collectorate Kasaragod,

Government General Hospital Kasaragod, Kanhangad Railway Station, Kasaragod

Municipality Office, Kasaragod New Bus Stand, Kasaragod Railway Station, KSRTC

Bus Stand Kasaragod, Nileshwaram Market, and Uppala Town Junction.

d) Walk Test - The walk tests conducted on 05th to 08th May 2026, covered Bekal Beach

Promenade, Kanhangad Market, Kasaragod Beach Walkway, and Kasaragod

Railway Station etc.

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

Annexure

1. Kasaragod 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 46617 46207 45532 47035

Number of Samples having poor signal strength 2153 3203 1252 2105

Number of Samples having limited service (No Coverage) 105 583 0 19

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.

BSNL

RJIL VIL

AIRTEL

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 419 402 421 421

Number of dropped Calls 1 18 0 1

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 maps.

AIRTEL BSNL

VIL

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) 403 368 405 404

Number of silences calls for >3 Sec 6 16 4 10

Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec 7 22 4 12

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

VILRJIL

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

AIRTEL

(upto 5G)

BSNL

(upto 4G)

RJIL

(upto 5G)

VIL

(upto 5G)

Typical Download throughput

declared by TSP (Mbits/s) 16.99 5.00 15.00 15.00

Average Download

Throughput measured during

IDT

(Mbits/s) 139.44 10.73 294.88 18.85

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

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL VIL

(ii) Upload Throughput

Parameter Measured

AIRTEL

(upto 5G)

BSNL

(upto 4G)

RJIL

(upto 5G)

VIL

(upto 5G)

Typical upload throughput

declared by TSP (Mbits/s) 2.80 3.00 7.00 8.00

Average Upload Throughput

measured during IDT (Mbits/s) 23.36 3.78 22.81 8.18

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

2. Kottapuram Boat Terminal- Azhithala - Medakkera Fishing Harbour - Nileswar

Baoting Terminal:

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL VIL

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 6287 6267 5856 6267

Number of Samples having poor signal strength 23 0 91 2

Number of Samples having limited service (No Coverage) 0 24 0 0

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.

b) Dropped Calls - The TSP-wise details of dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/ 3G/ 2G)

are as below:

AIRTEL BSNL

VILRJIL

Parameter AIRTEL BSNL RJIL VIL

Number of successful Calls Established 56 55 56 56

Number of dropped Calls 0 0 1 0

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.

RJIL

c) 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

AIRTEL

(upto 5G)

BSNL

(upto 4G)

RJIL

(upto 5G)

VIL

(upto 5G)

Typical Download throughput

declared by TSP (Mbits/s) 16.99 5.00 15.00 15.00

Average Download

Throughput measured during

IDT

(Mbits/s) 167.13 8.75 167.42 20.40

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

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL VIL

(ii) Upload Throughput

Parameter Measured

AIRTEL

(upto 5G)

BSNL

(upto 4G)

RJIL

(upto 5G)

VIL

(upto 5G)

Typical upload throughput

declared by TSP (Mbits/s) 2.80 3.00 7.00 8.00

Average Upload Throughput

measured during IDT (Mbits/s) 31.74 9.75 7.14 4.09

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

AIRTEL BSNL

RJIL VIL