TRAI Drive Test Shows Mixed Mobile‑Network Quality in South Andaman and Port Blair‑Havelock Corridor

Overview

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the results of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) carried out in August 2026 across South Andaman district and the coastal route from Port Blair to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep). The test, conducted under the West Bengal Local Service Area (LSA), measured real‑time voice and data performance of the four major telecom service providers (TSPs) – Airtel, BSNL, RJIL (Jio) and Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL).

Methodology

• Geography: City drive (≈ 260 km), hotspot checks (10 locations), walk tests (1.1 km) and coastal drive (≈ 53 km).
• Period: 17 – 21 August 2026, supervised by TRAI’s Kolkata Regional Office.
• Technology: Live voice and data sessions on 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G using SIMs from each TSP.
• Metrics captured: Coverage gap, Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Dropped Call Rate (DCR), Call Silence instances, Download/Upload throughput, latency, jitter, packet‑drop.
• Tools: Multiple advanced handsets and real‑time analysis software.

Key Findings

1. Coverage Gap (samples with signal < minimum threshold)

| TSP | Samples collected | Poor‑signal samples | Limited‑service samples | |-----|-------------------|----------------------|--------------------------| | Airtel | 37,333 | 4,734 | 1,008 | | BSNL | 37,623 | 9,228 | 888 | | RJIL | 38,739 | 5,123 | 466 | | VIL | 36,434 |15,927 | 1,322 |

2. Dropped Calls (out of successfully established calls)

• Airtel: 5 / 266 (≈ 1.9 %)
• BSNL: 38 / 268 (≈ 14.2 %)
• RJIL: 9 / 285 (≈ 3.2 %)
• VIL: 8 / 262 (≈ 3.1 %)

3. Call‑Silence Instances (silence > 3 seconds)

• Airtel: 23 / 264 calls (8.7 %)
• BSNL: 30 / 265 calls (11.3 %)
• RJIL: 33 / 264 calls (12.5 %)
• VIL: 13 / 143 calls (9.1 %)

4. Data Throughput (average speeds across 5G/4G/2G/3G)

• Download
• Airtel: 67.06 Mbps
• BSNL: 7.18 Mbps
• RJIL: 77.61 Mbps
• VIL: 26.54 Mbps
• Upload
• Airtel: 18.01 Mbps
• BSNL: 6.13 Mbps
• RJIL: 20.28 Mbps
• VIL: 10.84 Mbps

Implications for Consumers

• Coverage: VIL shows the highest proportion of weak‑signal samples, especially in remote pockets, while Airtel and RJIL perform better but still have notable gaps.
• Voice Quality: BSNL’s dropped‑call rate is markedly higher than its peers, suggesting potential network congestion or coverage issues on its 4G/2G layers.
• Data Experience: RJIL delivers the fastest download speeds, followed closely by Airtel. BSNL’s download speed is well below the declared 5 Mbps benchmark, which may affect streaming or video calls.
• Reliability: Call‑silence incidents are comparable across providers, indicating that occasional voice glitches are a regional challenge rather than a single‑operator problem.

How to Verify the Findings

• The full IDT report, including route maps and location‑specific data points, is published on TRAI’s website: www.trai.gov.in.
• Consumers can cross‑check their own experience by using network‑testing apps (e.g., OpenSignal, Speedtest) at the listed hotspot locations such as Carvin Cove Beach, Cellur Jail, and Havelock Jetty.
• Any discrepancies can be reported to TRAI’s Kolkata Regional Office (email: [email protected], phone: +91‑33‑22361401).

Practical Next Steps

• For Users: Prefer Airtel or RJIL for high‑speed data needs; consider BSNL only where coverage is confirmed.
• For Providers: The report has been shared with each TSP for corrective action. Expect possible network upgrades, especially in the identified coverage‑gap zones.
• For Regulators: Ongoing monitoring under the West Bengal LSA will continue to ensure compliance with QoS standards.

--- *All figures are taken directly from TRAI’s Press Release No. 136 (15 Oct 2026). No additional data or speculation has been added.*