TRAI Releases Independent Mobile Network Performance Audit for Bilaspur and Janjgir-Champa

Overview of Findings

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has published the results of its Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted in August 2026 across Bilaspur and Janjgir-Champa districts. The assessment aimed to evaluate the real-time mobile network quality, specifically focusing on voice and data services provided by major Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).

Methodology

The tests were conducted between August 17 and August 20, 2026, covering approximately 346.7 kilometers of city routes. Under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office in Bhopal, the agency evaluated performance across several metrics, including:

• Coverage Gap: Signal strength falling below established thresholds for 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies.
• Voice Services: Metrics such as Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), and Call Silence (Mute) instances.
• Data Performance: Average download and upload throughput speeds.

Performance Highlights

According to the report, network performance varied by provider across the two districts. For instance, in Bilaspur City, average data download speeds reached 177.88 Mbps for RJIL (5G) and 128.61 Mbps for Airtel (5G), while VIL and BSNL recorded 21.58 Mbps and 12.33 Mbps (4G) respectively. The authority noted that these findings represent network performance only during the specific timeframe and location of the tests.

Practical Implications

TRAI utilizes these audits to provide transparency for telecom consumers and to encourage service providers to address identified coverage or service gaps. Consumers interested in reviewing the specific geographic locations of network "dead zones" or areas with higher drop-call frequencies can access the detailed maps and annexures available on the official TRAI website. The report emphasizes that these results are based on dynamic drive tests and should be viewed as a snapshot of performance rather than a definitive measure of continuous service quality.

Verification

Interested parties can review the full dataset, including specific latitude and longitude markers for dropped calls and signal gaps, by downloading the official 'Press Release No. 131/2026' available on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India website.