Primary sources · Press release
TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality Across Various Areas of Chennai City.
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Information Note to the Press (Press Release No118/2026) TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA www.trai.gov.in Hyderabad, 17th September 2026 For Immediate Release
Information Note to the Press (Press Release No118/2026) TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA www.trai.gov.in Hyderabad, 17th September 2026 For Immediate Release
TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality Across, Tiruneermalai, Pammal, St. Thomus Mount, Guindy, Saidapet, Alwarpet, Mylapore, Egmore, George Town, Royapurm, Tol Gate, Kilpauk, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Puliambedu, Chembarambakkam and Kanadapalayam etc. in Chennai city.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Chennai City under TN LSA, during the month of July 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 – 232.8 Kms, Hotspot locations - 7, Walk Test – 9.9 Kms in Chennai city during 15th July 2026 to 17th July 2026 in Tamil Nadu LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Hyderabad. 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:-
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 Chennai City 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 43/57398 for Airtel, 1072/56431 for BSNL, 159/55815 for RJIL and 54/56842 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.
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 Limited service out of the total samples collected, was 7/57398 for Airtel, 191/56431 for BSNL, 0/55815 for RJIL and 0/56842 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 0/500 for Airtel, 12/499 for BSNL, 1/514 for RJIL and 1/508 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 3/493 for Airtel, 38/486 for BSNL 2/492 RJIL and 3/501 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 125.49 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 11.40 Mbps for BSNL (3G), 302.97 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 38.76 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 34.21 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 6.37 Mbps for BSNL (3G), 30.43 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 25.22 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 Tiruneermalai, Pammal, St. Thomus Mount, Guindy, Saidapet, Alwarpet, Mylapore, Egmore, George Town, Royapurm, Tol Gate, Kilpauk, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Puliamedu, Chembarambakkam and Kanadapalayam etc.in Chennai city.
b. Hotspot - The hot spot locations, capturing stationary user experience, are 1. Chennai Airport Parking 2. CtrlS Data Center 3. Hotel Lemon Tree 4. Press Information Bureau 5. Saveetha Engineering College 6. Vadapalani Metro Station 7. VR Mall Chennai
c. Walk Test - The walk test conducted on 16th July 2026, covered Chennai Airport Runway and inside Chennai Airport Terminal
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.hydreabad@trai.gov.in or Regional Office of TRAI can be contacted on telephone no. 040-23000761.
B. Praveen Kumar
Advisor, RO Hyderabad 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
57398
56431
55815
56842
Number of Samples having poor signal strength
43
1072
159
54
Number of Samples having limited service (No Coverage)
7
191
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
AIRTEL
Imbaattu
Pachaiamman Temple
Madhavaram Bus Depot
N4 Beach
Pattabiram
ANNANUR
AMBATTUR
PERAMBUR
ROYAPURAM
Avadi துறைய
Tiruvalithayam
Tiruvalleswarar Temple
Voyalanallur
Arulmigu Devi Karumariaman...
KOYAMBEDU
Arulmigu Vadapalani Murugan Temple
Thirumazhisai
D-Mart
T. NAGAR
MYLAPORE
tha edge
Gerugambakkam
St. Thomas Mount
SAIDAPET
Sri Nageswarar Temple-Rahu sthalam
GUINDY
ADYAR
rambakkam
Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
THIRUVANMIYUR
VELACHERY
PERUNGUDI
PAILAVARAM
CHROMEPET
Thoralipakkam
Coverage Colour Code No.of Samples
Poor Coverage ( 43 )
No Coverage ( 7 )
BSNL
Coverage Colour Code No.of Samples
Poor Coverage ( 1072 )
No Coverage ( 191 )
RJIL
Coverage Colour Code No.of Samples
Poor Coverage ( 159 )
No Coverage ( 0 )
VIL
Pachaiamman Temple
Madhavaram Bus Depot
N4 Beach
Pattabiram
ANNANUR
AMBATTUR
PERAMBUR
ROYAPURAM
Avadi
Tiruvalithayam
Tiruvali Svaran Temple
Chennai
Voyalanallur
Arulmigu Devi Karumariaman...
KOYAMBEDU
Arulmigu Vadapalani Murugan Temple
Thirumazhisai
D-Mart
T. NAGAR
MYLAPORE
Gerugambakkam
St. Thomas Mount
SAIDAPET
Sri Nageswarar Temple - Rahu sthalam
GUINDY
ADYAR
Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
THIRUVANMIYUR
rambakkam
Chennai Institute
NANGANALLIUR
VELACHERY
PALLAVARAM
PERUNGUDI
CHROMEPET
Thoraipakkam
Coverage Colour Code No.of Samples
Poor Coverage ( 54 )
No Coverage ( 0 )
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: -
Parameter
AIRTEL
BSNL
RJIL
VIL
Number of successful Calls Established
500
499
514
508
Number of dropped Calls
0
12
1
1
Locations of Dropped Calls
BSNL
Puzhal lake
PUZHAL
1018
Madhavaram Botanical Garden
114
Madhavaram Bus Depot
2
PERAMBUR
TONDIARPET
VYASARPADI
ROYA PURAM
AMBATTUR
AMBATTUR
Tiruvalithayam
Tiruvaliċesvarar Temple
716
ANNA NAGAR
EGMORE
Ilgu Devri
narijamman...
KOYAMBEDU
Marina Beach
1798
Nexus Vilaya Mall
T. NAGAR
MYLAPORE
PORUR
113
SAIDAPET
kkam
1026
St. Thomas Mount
GUINDY
ADYAR
Nanganallur
Anjaneyar Temple
THIRUVANMIYUR
NANGANALLUR
VELACHERY
PERUNGUDI
LAVARAM
MADIPAKKAM
48A
OMERCE
Map data ©2026
RJIL
Nelson Manickam
Map data ©2026
VIL
NITHIN TEA STALL
Best
MAJES
FabHotel Beach
Stay Home
Tassudin Khan St
Royal Palace
3.6
2
Construction
temporarily closed
HyBee Tours and Travels
Airline ticket agency
D BOX MENS WEAR
Men's clothing store
Babylon Cafe
Adam Mansion
Hajee MA Shahul
Hameed & Sons (Tamil...
Muktharunnisa Begum St
e Bhavan
South Indian
Adam Mansion
HAVAN
ELLAMMAL
COCONUT STALL
Map data ©2026
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 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)
493
486
492
501
Number of silences calls for >3 Sec
3
31
2
3
Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec
3
38
2
3
Locations of Call Silence Instance
AIRTEL
Mathur
1018
Madhavaram Botanical Garden
PUZHAL Lake
Puzhal Lake
MANALI
TIRUVOTTIYUR
114
Madhavaram Botanical Garden
temple
Madhavaram Bus Depot
N4 Beach
205
48
PERAMBUR
TONDIARPET
ANNANUR
AMBATTUR
VYASARPADI
ROYAPURAM
Tiruvalithayam
Tiruvallesvarar Temple
7
Anna NAGAR
Arulmigu Devi Karumariamman...
KOYAMBEDU
EGMORE
Marina Beach
48
Nexus Vijaya Mall
113
T. NAGAR
MYLAPORE
PORUR
55
SAIDAPET
Gerugambakkam
55
St. Thomas Mount
GUINDY
ADYAR
Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
THIRUVANMIYUR
VELACHERY
48
Map data ©2026
BSNL
Puzhal Lake
RUZHAL
1018
Madhavaram Botanical Garden
576
Man Temple
Madhavaram Bus Depot
N4 Beach
ANNANUR
PERAMBUR
TONIARPET
AMBATTUR
VYASARPADI
ROYAPURAM
Tiruvalithayam
Tiruvalilesvar Temple
716
Anna NAGAR
Chennai
EGMOPE
Arulmigu Devi Karumariamman...
KOYAMBEDU
Marina Beach
Nexus Vriyaya Mall
T. NAGAR
MYLAPORE
Porur
PORUR
113
St. Thomas Mount
SAIDAPET
Gerugambakkam
1026
Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
ADYAR
THIRUVANMIYUR
PAMMAL
DALLAVARAM
VELACHERY
MADIPAKKAM
PERUNUGUDI
Map data ©2026
RJIL
KILPAUK
Nehru Stadium
Muthukumarasamy...
Fort St. Museum
Alangappa Rd
1798
Greater Chennai Corporation Office
1796
CHINTADRIET
Island Grounds
MUKTA GARDENS
EGMORE
PUDUPET
PUDUPET
Mount Road Bilai
Anna Salal
Swami Swam
Ala Salal
CHETPET
Iton Rd
Merina beac
Spencer Plaza
Express Avenue
Pycrofts Rd
NGAMBAKKAM
and ce...
Marina Beach Photo Spot
dambakkam High Rd
Sembozi Poonga Botanical Park
GOPALAPURAM
Marina Beach
The Savera
Dr Naresh Rd
POES GARDEN
POES GARDEN
Mowbeys Rd
TEYNAMPET
enkateswara Swamy temple, Tirumala
Sai Baba Temple Mylapore
MYLAPORE
Kutchery Rd
Loop Rd
Map data ©2026 Google
VIL
Tiruvalithayam
Tiruvallesvarar Temple
Ayanavaram Rd
Sri Kandaswamy temple
PULIANTHOPE
புலின்னோPE
AS Medical on Hospital
APPAIR பாளிய்
6th Ave
112
ANNA NAGAR அணை மாதிரி
H
ARUMBAKKAM அருமற்கம்
179B
EGMORE கெட்டு
KOYAMBEDU கொட்டு
Loyola College
Spencer Plaza
TRIPLICANE சிறியில் கொட்டு
Nahdi Mandi Restaurant
Arulmigu Vadapalani Murugan Temple
Arulmigu Sri Parthasarathyswamy...
T. NAGAR நகர மாதிரி
Manjal மாதிரி
Sivan Park விழாபark்
Ashok Pillar
7th Ave
ALWARPET அல்லது மாதிரி
MYLAPORE முல்லா மாதிரி
Saravana - Porur பொருள்
Anna Salai
SAIDAPET கொட்டு மாதிரி
55
1026
ITC Grand Chola, a Luxury Collection...
St. Thomas Mount
GUINDY கொட்டு
Guindy National Park
ADYAR அல்லது மாதிரி
Edward Elliot's B Map data ©2026
Phoenix Marketcity
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
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)
18.00
5.00
15.00
15.00
Average Download Throughput measured during IDT
(Mbits/s)
125.49
11.40
302.97
38.76
AIRTEL
Throughput Colour Code No.of Samples No.of Samples
100 Mbps and above 115 (57.48%)
50-100 Mbps 89 (16.24%)
30-60 Mbps 48 (8.76%)
10-30 Mbps 68 (12.41%)
0-10 Mbps 28 (5.11%)
BSNL
Throughput Colour Code No.of Samples No.of Samples
100 Mbps and above 0 (0.00%)
50-100 Mbps 0 (0.00%)
30-60 Mbps 7 (1.61%)
10-30 Mbps 204 (46.90%)
0-10 Mbps 224 (51.49%)
RJIL
Pachaiamman Temple
Madhavaram Bus Depot
PERAMBUR
OYASURAM
Avadi
Tiruvalatharam
Tiruvalatharam Temple
AAINA NAGAR
Arulmigu Devi Karumariam...
KOR AMBEOU
Arulmigu Vedapalam Murugan Temple
T. NAGAR
MYLAORE
Gerugambakkam
St. Thomas Mount
SAIDADET
ADYAR
Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
VELACHERY
THIRUVANMIYUR
Sri Nageswarar Temple-Rahu sthalam
GUINDU
ADYAR
Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
VELACHERY
THIRUVANMIYUR
CHROMEPET
PERUNGUDI
Thoraipakkam
Throughput
Colour Code
No.of Samples
% of Samples
100 Mbps and above ( 452 ) ( 88.11% )
50-100 Mbps ( 36 ) ( 7.02% )
30-50 Mbps ( 5 ) ( 0.97% )
10-30 Mbps ( 11 ) ( 2.14% )
0-10 Mbps ( 9 ) ( 1.75%)
VIL
nbaattu
Pattabiram
ANNANUR
AMBATTUR
PERAMBUR
OYAPURAM
Avadi
Tiruvallatham
Thruvali Saner Temple
Chenna.
Voyalanallur
Arulmigu Devi Karumariam...
KOYAMBEQU
Arulmigu Venkapalani Murugan Temple
Marina Be
Thirumazhisai
D-Mart
T. NAGAR
MYLA GORE
Gerugambakkam
St. Thomas Mount
SAIDAPET
Sri Nageswarar Temple, Rahuisthalam
GUINDY
ADYAR
Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
THIRUVANMIYUR
VELACHERY
CHROMEPET
PERUNGUDI
Thoralipakkam
Throughput
Colour Code
No.of Samples
% of Samples
100 Mbps and above
0 ( 0.00% )
50-100 Mbps
167 ( 33.40% )
30-50 Mbps
168 ( 33.60% )
10-30 Mbps
124 ( 24.80% )
0-10 Mbps
41 ( 8.20% )
Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only
(ii) Upload Throughput
Parameter
Measured in
AIRTEL (upto 5G)
BSNL (upto 4G)
RJIL (upto 5G)
VIL (upto 5G)
Typical upload throughput declared by TSP
(Mbits/s)
8.00
3.00
7.00
8.00
Average Upload Throughput measured during IDT
(Mbits/s)
34.21
6.37
30.43
25.22
AIRTEL
nbaattu
Pattabiram
ANNANUR
AMBATTUR
PERAMBUR
KOYAPURAM
Avadi
Thiruvallaharam
Hiruvallaharam Temple
Chennai
Voyalanallur
Arulimgu Devi
Karumariamman...
KOYAMBROU
Arulimgu Vedapalani
Murugan Temple
Marina Be
Thirumazhisai
D-Mart
MYLA PORE
Gerugambakkam
St. Thomas Mount
SAIDAPET
Sri Nageswarar
Temple-Rahu sthalam
GUINDY
ADYAR
Nanganallur
Anjaneyar Temple
THIRUVANMIYUR
Gerugambakkam
CHROMEPET
Perungudi
Thoraipakkam
Throughput Colour Code No.of Samples % of Samples
50 Mbps and above 137 (25.18%)
30-50 Mbps 142 (26.10%)
10-30 Mbps 165 (30.33%)
5-10 Mbps 63 (11.58%)
0-5 Mbps 37 (6.80%)
BSNL
Pachaiamman Temple
Madhavaram Bus Depot
Ml Beach
ANNANUR
AMBATTUR
PERAMBUR
KOYAPURAM
Avadi அமுத்த
Tiruulitharam
Truvallar Sarar Temple
AnNA NAGAR
Arulmigu Devi Karumariaman...
KOYAMBEDU
Arulmigu Vavapalani Murugan Temple
Marina Be
Thirumazhisai D-Mart
T. NAGAR MYLAORE
Gerugambakkam St. Thomas Mount
ADYAR Sri Nageswarar Temple-Rahu thalam
GUING
Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple
VELACHERY THIRUVANMIYUR
CHROMEPET PERUNGUDI
Thorainakkam
Throughput Colour Code No.of Samples % of Samples
50 Mbps and above ( 0 ) ( 0.00% )
30-50 Mbps ( 0 ) ( 0.00% )
10-30 Mbps ( 117 ) ( 26.53% )
5-10 Mbps ( 63 ) ( 14.29% )
0-5 Mbps ( 261 ) ( 59.18%)
RJIL
Throughput
50 Mbps and above
30-50 Mbps
10-30 Mbps
5-10 Mbps
0-5 Mbps
Colour Code
No. of Samples
% of Samples
( 106 ) ( 20.87%)
( 132 ) ( 26.18%)
( 161 ) ( 31.69%)
( 46 ) ( 8.06%)
( 62 ) ( 12.20%)
VIL
Throughput
50 Mbps and above
30-50 Mbps
10-30 Mbps
5-10 Mbps
0-5 Mbps
Colour Code
No. of Samples
% of Samples
( 43 ) ( 8.78%)
( 113 ) ( 23.06%)
( 252 ) ( 51.43%)
( 57 ) ( 11.63%)
( 25 ) ( 5.10%)
Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only