India’s telecom regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), has released findings from independent drive tests conducted in February across key locations in Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and a highway stretch between Ahmedabad and Vadodara.
The results indicate that private telecom operators outperformed the state-run provider in both call quality and data performance.
Key Highlights from TRAI Drive Tests
- Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel recorded nearly 100% call setup success rates in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
- BSNL reported a significantly lower success rate of 81.91%, along with higher call drop instances.
- In 5G data performance, Jio led with 258 Mbps download speeds, followed by Airtel at 121 Mbps.
- Vodafone Idea lagged behind with average 5G speeds of 55 Mbps.
- Both Jio and Airtel also demonstrated consistent performance on 4G networks.
Performance on Highway Corridors
On the Ahmedabad–Vadodara highway, often seen as a stress test for network continuity, Jio and Airtel maintained stable connectivity and call performance.
BSNL, however, recorded call drop rates as high as 22.73%, along with weaker mobile data speeds, indicating gaps in network reliability outside urban centers.
What Officials Indicated
While TRAI did not issue direct commentary favoring any operator, the data reflects a clear performance gap. The regulator conducts such drive tests periodically to provide an independent assessment of telecom service quality across regions.
These evaluations typically measure key indicators such as:
- Call setup success rate
- Call drop rate
- Data download speeds
- Network consistency during mobility
Context and Background
TRAI’s drive testing initiative is part of its broader mandate to ensure quality of service standards across India’s rapidly expanding telecom sector.
With the rollout of 5G services accelerating, operators are under increasing pressure to deliver not just high speeds but also reliable connectivity in both urban and highway environments.
Private telecom companies like Jio and Airtel have invested heavily in 5G infrastructure, while BSNL, a government-owned operator, is still in the process of upgrading its network capabilities.
Public Impact: Why This Matters
For consumers, these findings highlight real-world network performance rather than advertised speeds.
- Urban users in cities like Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar are likely to experience better call reliability and faster data with leading private operators.
- Highway commuters benefit from stronger network continuity, especially for navigation and emergency communication.
- BSNL users may face challenges in call stability and data speeds, particularly outside city limits.
Conclusion and What Comes Next
The latest TRAI findings underscore the widening performance gap between private telecom providers and BSNL in Gujarat.
As 5G adoption grows, continued investment in infrastructure and network optimization will be critical, especially for operators lagging behind. Future drive tests are expected to track improvements as telecom companies expand coverage and upgrade technology.
Inputs and images : Hindusthan Samachar
Edited By E. Devanshi varma
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