New Delhi:Airtel and Reliance Jio (RJIL) emerged as top performers in voice and 5G data services, while BSNL lagged across key metrics in the Una–Mandi region, according to findings from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s latest drive test.
In city and highway routes tested in May 2025, Airtel and RJIL recorded Call Setup Success Rates of 98.90% and 98.70%, respectively, with drop call rates under 1%. BSNL, by contrast, showed a 15.69% drop call rate and lower voice clarity. On the data front, RJIL averaged 194.15 Mbps download, while Airtel peaked at 572.97 Mbps on 5G in hotspot zones. BSNL’s data speed trailed significantly at just 3.25 Mbps.
City, Highway & Rail Corridor Assessed
TRAI’s Independent Drive Test (IDT), conducted from May 26–28, covered 116.6 km of city areas in Una and Mandi, 283.9 km of highways via Bilaspur, Rewalsar and Hamirpur, and 384.8 km of the New Delhi–Una railway route. Walk tests were also carried out in crowded locations like IIT Mandi and Una Railway Station.
Key public sites such as District Court Una, ISBT Una, and ICFAI University were included to capture real-world signal and speed behaviour for both stationary and mobile users.
Voice & Data Service Performance (Auto Selection Mode):
- Call Setup Time: Fastest on RJIL (0.76s); slowest on BSNL (3.85s)
- Voice Quality (MOS): Airtel (3.92), RJIL (3.89), BSNL (2.61)
- Call Silence/Mute Rate: Lowest on Airtel (1.39%), highest on VIL (3.90%)
Average Download Speeds:
- RJIL: 194.15 Mbps
- Airtel: 134.56 Mbps
- VIL: 15.88 Mbps
- BSNL: 3.25 Mbps
Upload Speeds:
- Airtel: 19.07 Mbps
- RJIL: 18.89 Mbps
- VIL: 7.15 Mbps
- BSNL: 3.76 Mbps
TRAI said the results are based on real-time data collected using calibrated devices and standardised protocols. The findings help benchmark actual consumer experience across India’s evolving telecom landscape.
“TRAI remains committed to ensuring that service quality keeps pace with consumer expectations,” said Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti. Full findings are available on www.trai.gov.in.
