New Delhi, September 30: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Sonitpur district in the state of Assam under Assam LSA, during the month of August 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 – 308.0 KMs, Hotspot locations – 10, Walk Test – 1.6 KMs in Assam LSA during 10th August 2026 to 13th August 2026 in Assam LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Kolkata. 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
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 Services: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate
The overall mobile network performance in parts of Sonitpur district under Assam LSA for the key parameters has been summarised below: –
a) Coverage Gap – The signal strength observed during voice testing on the city 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 1766 / 44378 for Airtel, 18494 /41037 for BSNL, 1494/ 43999 for RJIL and 6682 / 44109 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/ 311 for Airtel, 301/ 476 for BSNL, 0/ 316 for RJIL and 8/ 312 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 13/ 309 for Airtel, 7/ 253 for BSNL, 7/ 309 for RJIL and 8/ 310 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 116.11Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 11.72 Mbps for BSNL (4G/2G), 221.18 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 20.04 Mbps for VIL (4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.
ii) Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 21.09 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 4.32 Mbps for BSNL (4G/ 2G), 15.98 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 6.69 Mbps for VIL (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: –
a) City – The areas covered in the city drive are (i) Da-Parbatia Gaon (ii) Gutlong Gaon, (iii) Parmai Gauli Gaon,(iv) Dhalaibil, (v) No.1 Malijan, (vi) Tezpur, (vi) Kumar Gaon, (vii) Uhani Pathar Batabari, Dekeri Gaon, (viii) No.1 Thakurbari T.E, Bindukuri Gaon, Rangamati Gaon, (ix) Sonabil, Nepali Basti Gaon, (x) Thelamara, (xi)Natun Pam Gaon, (xii) Kukura-Khaiti and Dhekiajuli Bagan etc.
b) Hotspot – The hot spot locations, capturing stationary user experience, are (i) ASTC Bus Stand – Mahabhairab – Tezpur, (ii) Dhekiajuli Block Development Office – Dhekiajuli, (iii) District Court Tezpur – Mahatma Gandhi Rd – Mahabhairab – Tezpur, (iv) Narengkati Higher Secondary School – No.2 – Singimari Gaon, (v) North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management – Dolabari – Tezpur, (vi) St. Xaviers College – Goraimari – Tezpur, (vii) Tezpur Head Post Office – Mahabhairab – Tezpur, (viii) Tezpur Medical College and Hospital – Niz – Bihaguri Gaon – Tezpur, (ix) Tezpur University – Napaam – Tezpur, (x) Udmari Gaon Panchayat – Balipara
c) Walk Test – The walk tests conducted during 12th to 13th August 2026, are (i) North Jamuguri BPHC/CHC – Panigaon – Dhalaibil, (ii) Rangapara North Junction – No.1 – Thakurbari T.E. capturing mobile network behaviour in crowded pedestrian environments.
