TRAI Releases Mobile Network Quality Assessment Findings for Kachchh Region and Highways

TRAI Publishes Independent Drive Test Results

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the findings from its Independent Drive Tests (IDT) conducted in September 2026 across the Kachchh area, including Gandhidham and Bhuj cities, as well as the Bhuj-to-Bachau highway within the Gujarat License Service Area (LSA). The tests evaluated real-time voice and data performance for major telecom service providers.

Supervised by the TRAI Regional Office in Jaipur, the assessment covered approximately 245.2 kilometers of city routes, 9 hotspot locations, and 75.7 kilometers along the Bhuj-to-Bachau highway between September 8 and September 11, 2026. Specialized testing equipment and multi-technology SIM cards (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G) were utilized to monitor key quality parameters.

Key Parameters Assessed

The drive tests measured several technical metrics to determine network reliability and user experience:

• Coverage Gaps: Instances where signal strength fell below standard thresholds for respective network technologies.
• Voice Quality: Metrics including Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), call silence instances, and speech quality.
• Data Performance: Average download and upload throughput, latency, jitter, and packet loss rates.

Summary of Findings

Kachchh Area (Gandhidham and Bhuj Cities)

• Coverage Gaps: Out of total samples collected, poor signal strength was recorded across operators: Airtel (242/56,687), BSNL (575/56,051), RJIL (290/55,391), and VIL (245/56,876).
• Dropped Calls: Out of successfully established calls, dropped calls were recorded as: Airtel (0/496), BSNL (10/496), RJIL (3/495), and VIL (0/499).
• Data Throughput: Average download speeds reached 177.25 Mbps for Airtel, 10.27 Mbps for BSNL, 231.92 Mbps for RJIL, and 31.68 Mbps for VIL.

Bhuj to Bhachau Highway

• Coverage Gaps: Poor signal samples included Airtel (202/11,015), BSNL (1,718/10,423), RJIL (187/10,902), and VIL (164/11,198).
• Dropped Calls: Recorded dropped calls stood at Airtel (0/54), BSNL (7/56), RJIL (0/54), and VIL (1/55).
• Data Throughput: Average download speeds were recorded at 139.15 Mbps for Airtel, 10.66 Mbps for BSNL, 241.22 Mbps for RJIL, and 22.97 Mbps for VIL.

Verification and Next Steps

The findings have been shared with the respective telecom service providers for corrective action where necessary. Detailed reports, maps, and specific location data are publicly available on the official TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. Stakeholders may contact the TRAI Regional Office in Jaipur for clarifications.