New Delhi, July 1, 2025 — In a major step toward ensuring transparency and accountability in the telecom sector, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its findings from the Independent Drive Tests (IDTs) carried out in May 2025. Conducted across 13 cities, along with highway, railway, and coastal corridors in eight Licensed Service Areas (LSAs), this drive test offers a comprehensive, on-ground snapshot of the quality of mobile services in India.
The evaluation covered key telecom players—Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio (RJIL), Vodafone Idea (Vi), and BSNL—across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies, under real-world conditions.
Coverage Overview: Testing the Nation’s Network Spine
The drive test spanned both urban hubs and remote regions, with data collected from:
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Ranchi & Latehar, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar Railway Corridor, Panipat, Una & Mandi, Chikmagaluru, Chennai, Ayodhya, and Moradabad
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Key travel routes like Dehradun–Badrinath Highway and Ahmedabad–Bhavnagar Railway
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A coastal corridor near Ghogha Port, Gujarat
The extensive scope demonstrates TRAI’s intent to ensure pan-India quality auditing, not just limited to metropolitan areas.
Performance Metrics: What Was Measured?
The tests were carried out by a TRAI-appointed independent agency using calibrated equipment and standardized testing protocols. The key indicators assessed included:
Voice Services
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Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR)
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Call Setup Time
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Drop Call Rate (DCR)
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Call Silence/Mute Rate
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Speech Quality (MOS – Mean Opinion Score)
Data Services
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Download/Upload Speeds
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Latency and Jitter
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Packet Loss
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Video Streaming Delay
These parameters offer a holistic view of how well each telecom provider supports everyday user needs like calling, video streaming, and app-based communications.
Top Performers and Areas of Strength
📌 Ayodhya & Panipat: Models of Voice Network Efficiency
Both cities recorded exceptionally low drop call rates, and all major operators achieved CSSR scores nearing or hitting 100%, making them ideal benchmarks for voice quality standards.
📌 Chennai & Ahmedabad: Data Powerhouses
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RJIL clocked 355.92 Mbps 5G download speed in Ahmedabad, a staggering figure that underscores the commercial capital’s readiness for high-capacity 5G usage.
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Airtel achieved 164.35 Mbps average download in Chennai, showcasing robust mid-band 5G deployment.
📌 RJIL Dominance in Data Speeds
Across nearly all cities, Reliance Jio consistently led in download speeds, hitting over 250 Mbps in 5G hotspots and averaging over 190 Mbps in most regions.
Lagging Regions and Pain Points
Ranchi, Una & Mandi: Troubling Call Drop and Setup Failures
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Ranchi reported drop call rates over 10% for BSNL, and CSSR below 80% for Vodafone Idea, indicating poor signal strength and inconsistent coverage.
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In Una & Mandi, BSNL had a drop call rate of 15.69%, raising red flags for users in hilly terrain where connectivity is already difficult.
Chikmagaluru & Moradabad: Subpar Voice Reliability
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Vodafone Idea saw a CSSR of just 73.81% in Chikmagaluru—a clear deviation from QoS standards.
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Airtel in Moradabad had an unusually high call setup time of 12.69 seconds, which could impact VoLTE user experience.
Operator-wise Breakdown: Who’s Winning the Telecom Race?
🔹 Bharti Airtel
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Strengths: Consistent voice quality with MOS above 3.9, strong 5G speeds (up to 189 Mbps), and 100% CSSR in key metros.
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Weakness: Call silence/mute rates were elevated in hilly or congested cities (up to 4.17% in Chikmagaluru).
🔹 Reliance Jio
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Strengths: 5G speed leader, seamless call connectivity, lowest call setup times (<1 second).
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Weakness: Moderate performance in voice MOS (~3.77–3.95), indicating potential for speech clarity improvement.
🔹 Vodafone Idea (Vi)
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Strengths: Competitive 4G download speeds (especially in Ayodhya and Chennai).
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Weakness: Persistent issues with CSSR, call mute, and upload speeds, especially in interior cities.
🔹 BSNL
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Strengths: Reasonable upload performance in select hotspots.
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Weakness: Network stability continues to be a concern—high drop call rates, slow speeds (as low as 1.40 Mbps), and speech quality MOS under 3 in many cities.
5G vs 4G: A Transition in Progress
TRAI’s IDTs offer evidence that 5G is rapidly gaining traction in metros and state capitals. Operators like RJIL and Airtel are demonstrating real-world 5G use cases, such as:
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Streaming HD video with minimal buffering
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Faster call setup and clearer voice using VoNR (Voice over New Radio)
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High upload speeds exceeding 40 Mbps in hotspots—ideal for content creators and professionals
However, 4G remains the primary mobile broadband backbone, especially in semi-urban and rural belts.
Policy Significance: More Than Just Numbers
This extensive audit supports TRAI’s mandate of holding telecom companies accountable to national benchmarks and public expectations. It also:
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Helps identify underperforming LSAs requiring infrastructure investments
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Enables state governments and local bodies to collaborate with telcos on coverage issues
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Equips consumers with actionable insights for choosing better service providers based on geography
The data also bolsters India’s digital inclusion efforts, ensuring that high-speed connectivity isn’t a luxury reserved for metro cities alone.
TRAI’s May 2025 IDT report paints a mixed yet promising picture. While 5G rollouts have meaningfully improved data throughput and latency in key regions, challenges remain in voice reliability, particularly in regions with topographical constraints or outdated infrastructure.
Operators like Reliance Jio and Airtel are clearly at the forefront of performance innovation. However, players like BSNL must urgently accelerate modernization to stay relevant in an increasingly data-first economy.
🔗 Read the Full Report
Available on: www.trai.gov.in
For queries, contact:
📧 [email protected] | ☎️ +91-11-20907759
