The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib Cities & Amritsar to Bathinda Rail Route (in Punjab LSA), during the month of March 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 usage environments 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 - 276.8 KMs, Hotspot locations - 06, Railway - 282.8 Kms during 16^th March 2026 to 19^th March 2026 in Punjab LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Jaipur. 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

1. Coverage Gap: Percentage of samples, for which signal strength observed less than the minimum prescribed signal strength for respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G).
2. Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time, Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS).
3. Call Silence Instance: Number of call silence instances occurred during the calls.
4. Data Services: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate.

           

The overall mobile network performance in Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib Cities & Amritsar to Bathinda Rail Route for the key parameters has been summarised below:

1. Bathinda City:

1. 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 287/30694 for Airtel, 7669/29845 for BSNL, 378/30653 for RJIL and 283/ 30542 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.
2. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 0/ 275 for Airtel, 4/ 268 for BSNL, 1/276 for RJIL and 1/273 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed.
3. 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 3/267 for Airtel, 1/266 for RJIL and 17/268 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map Annexed.

 

4. Data Download and Upload Throughput:

1. Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 151.88 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 14.55 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 198.27 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 34.07Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.
2. Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 18.53 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.70 Mbps for MTNL (3G), 14.19 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 15.97 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of upload throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

 

2. Sri Muktsar Sahib City:

1. 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 70/10777 for Airtel, 2180/9510 for BSNL, 148/10119 for RJIL and 43/10123 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.

 

2. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 0/91 for Airtel, 2/89 for BSNL, 1/91 for RJIL and 0/91 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed

 

3. 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 2/87 for Airtel, 3/88 for RJIL and 0/87 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map Annexed.

 

4. Data Download and Upload Throughput:

 

1. Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 172.32 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 18.20 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 222.90 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 26.51 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

 

2. Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 11.02 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.00 Mbps for BSNL (3G), 12.87 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 13.19 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of upload throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

 

• III. Amritsar to Bathinda Rail Route:

1. 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 552/21422 for Airtel, 4959/20782 for BSNL, 287/21228 for RJIL and 571/20813 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.

 

2. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 2/108 for Airtel, 8/109 for BSNL, 0/108 for RJIL and 0/91 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed

 

3. Data Download and Upload Throughput:

 

1. Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 95.82 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 18.36 Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G), 111.72 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 11.11 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

 

2. Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 19.89 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 7.82 Mbps for BSNL (4G/3G), 16.93 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 13.60 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 the red dot on the map Annexed.

 

Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT is as under: -

1. Bathinda City: - Behman Diwana, Lal Singh Nagar, Ganpati Enclave, Jassi Pauwali, Tungwali, Bhucho Mandi, Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Bhokra, Goniana, Nehian Wala, Buladewala, Killi Nihal Singhwali and Kothe Chet Singh etc.
2. Sri Muktsar Sahib City: - Bhalaiana, Buttar Sarinh, Lohara, Doda, Bhullar, New Grain Market, Subash Nagar, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Udekaran and Guru Anand Dev Nagar etc.
3. Railway Route: - Amritsar to Bathinda Via Beas Jn, Jalandhar City Jn, Kapurthala, Kapurthala Rail Coach Factory, Sultanpur Lodhi, Lohian Khas Jn, Makhu, Firozpur Cantt Jn, Faridkot, Kot Kapura Jn and Gangsar Jaito.

 

The findings of this IDT report have been shared with respective TSPs for taking further necessary action at their end, if required. A detailed report of IDT is made available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification or additional information, an email can be sent to the Regional office of TRAI at Jaipur on Email id adv.jaipur@trai.gov.in. Regional Office of TRAI at Jaipur RO can be contacted on telephone no. 0141-2701919.

****

NJ/AN

(Release ID: 2267561) Visitor Counter : 285