TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Pains: Extensive Drive Tests Reveal Quality Disparities in Rudrapur, Haldwani & Kashipur

TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Pains: Extensive Drive Tests Reveal Quality Disparities in Rudrapur, Haldwani & Kashipur​

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings from a comprehensive Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across the UPW LSA. The study assessed the real-time quality of mobile network services for general consumers in Rudrapur, Haldwani, and Kashipur cities. These IDTs are critical checks to verify the performance of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) across voice and data QoS parameters.

Scope and Methodology of TRAI Drive Tests​

TRAI utilized sophisticated IDT methods to capture ground-level mobile network performance. The tests, conducted from April 6th to April 9th, 2026, spanned a City drive distance of 408 KMs. They also included 14 Hotspot locations and 3.2 Kms of Walk Tests in the target cities.

The IDT was designed to stress-test network performance across diverse usage environments. Live data sessions were established using SIM cards from all TSPs, covering 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. Advanced test handsets monitored these live sessions, which are analyzed by TRAI's appointed agency under the supervision of the Regional Office Bhopal.

Voice Services Performance Snapshot Across Major Providers​

The analysis included key metrics such as Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Dropped Call Rate (CDR), and Call Silence Instances. These results provide a clear performance snapshot of network stability across the assessed regions.

For dropped calls, the data indicated highly varied outcomes among providers for Rudrapur, Haldwani, and Kashipur. Airtel recorded 2 dropped calls out of 511 successfully established calls, showing excellent resilience. BSNL reported 30 dropped calls in 472 successful connections. RJIL registered 3 dropped calls out of 476 attempts, while VIL recorded 2 dropped calls out of 507.

In terms of call silence instances (observed for more than three seconds), Airtel recorded 23 instances out of 485 total calls established. BSNL reported 22 such incidents out of 427 established calls. RJIL and VIL recorded 5 and 16 instances, respectively, over their respective test periods.

Data Throughput Benchmarks Highlight Quality Variances​

Data performance metrics include average Download (DL) and Upload (UL) throughput for the analyzed cities. The findings show significant variation in data speed across different providers and network generations.

For overall data download performance, RJIL stood out with an impressive average speed of 246.69 Mbps, achieved on its 5G/4G networks. Airtel maintained a robust average download speed of 154.21 Mbps (5G/4G). VIL recorded 45.15 Mbps, while BSNL reported a download throughput of 9.49 Mbps (4G) for the region.

The upload performance also showed clear distinctions in quality and capability. Airtel registered an average upload speed of 28.18 Mbps (5G/4G). RJIL maintained a strong upload rate at 28.59 Mbps (5G/4G). VIL recorded 14.10 Mbps, with BSNL reporting a 4.09 Mbps upload throughput.

Detailed Analysis of Coverage Gaps in UPW LSA​

Coverage Gap measures the percentage of samples where signal strength was less than the minimum prescribed standard for the corresponding technology (2G/3G/4G/5G). These statistics indicate areas needing immediate network reinforcement.

For the collective Rudrapur, Haldwani, and Kashipur cities, Airtel reported 2512 poor signal strength observations out of 57101 total samples collected. RJIL recorded 1944 such instances in a sample size of 55344. VIL had 835 gaps out of 53981 samples. BSNL reported the highest number of gaps at 11090 out of 54757 total samples.

Critical Testing Locations and Areas Covered​

The IDT covered a wide spectrum of locations, ensuring both city-wide coverage and critical user experience checks were performed. The City drive routes included areas like Gadarpur, Dineshpur, Jainagar in Rudrapur. Haldwani’s tested localities included Kathgodam and Transport Nagar. Kashipur’s routes encompassed Pratappur and Sultanpur.

Hotspot testing captured stationary user experiences at key locations such as the Government Medical College Haldwani, Metropolis mall Rudrapur, and the Kashipur Railway Station. Walk tests were specifically conducted in crowded pedestrian environments, covering Chowk Bazaar Haldwani and Kathgodam Railway Station.

The findings of this IDT report have been shared with all respective TSPs for necessary action. Detailed reports are available on the TRAI website, inviting service providers to review these performance metrics across their operations.