The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has published findings from independent drive tests conducted across parts of Kolkata city, Howrah and Hooghly districts during July 2026. The tests measured the real-time quality of mobile network services provided by all major telecom service providers in the region, covering voice calls, data speeds and network coverage.
Key facts
- Tests conducted 13 to 16 July 2026 across 309.7 kilometres of city roads, 10 hotspot locations and 2.8 kilometres of walking routes
- All four major telecom service providers assessed: Airtel, BSNL, Reliance Jio (RJIL) and Vodafone Idea (VIL)
- Testing covered 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks using live voice and data sessions
- Average data download speeds ranged from 7.98 Mbps (BSNL) to 297.95 Mbps (Reliance Jio)
- Average data upload speeds ranged from 4.35 Mbps (BSNL) to 45.64 Mbps (Airtel)
- Dropped call rates were lowest for Airtel and Reliance Jio (near zero) and highest for BSNL at 15 out of 483 calls
- Coverage gaps (areas with weak signal) were highest for BSNL at 3,904 out of 64,760 samples and lowest for Airtel at 122 out of 65,638 samples
What these independent drive tests measure
TRAI conducts these tests to assess the actual performance of mobile networks in real-world conditions, not under laboratory settings. The tests simulate how ordinary users experience network service when making calls and using data. During each drive test, TRAI uses multiple test devices with SIM cards from each telecom provider and monitors performance metrics in real time.
The key parameters measured include coverage quality (signal strength), call reliability (how often calls connect and whether they drop), voice quality, data download and upload speeds, latency (delay in data transmission), and packet loss. Walk tests in crowded areas like railway stations capture network behaviour under heavy user density.
Coverage and voice quality findings
Airtel showed the strongest coverage during the tests, with only 122 samples out of 65,638 showing poor signal strength. BSNL recorded the highest coverage gaps with 3,904 weak-signal samples. Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea fell in between with 181 and 401 coverage gaps respectively.
For call reliability, Airtel and Reliance Jio performed best with only 1 and zero dropped calls respectively out of around 466-468 successful calls. BSNL had the most dropped calls at 15 out of 483. Call silence instances, where the audio cuts out for more than 3 seconds, were most frequent with BSNL and Vodafone Idea.
Data speed performance
Data download speeds showed significant variation. Reliance Jio achieved the highest average download speed at 297.95 Mbps, followed by Airtel at 255.13 Mbps. Vodafone Idea managed 49.06 Mbps while BSNL recorded only 7.98 Mbps. This difference reflects partly the different network technologies available in tested areas and the providers’ network infrastructure.
For upload speeds, Airtel led at 45.64 Mbps, followed by Reliance Jio at 38.63 Mbps. BSNL and Vodafone Idea recorded significantly lower upload speeds at 4.35 Mbps and 12.31 Mbps respectively.
What this means for mobile users
These test results give consumers independent information about which networks provide better service quality in the Kolkata region. Users experiencing poor call quality or slow data speeds can compare their experience against these benchmarks. TRAI shares this data to encourage telecom providers to improve their networks and maintain quality standards.
The tests covered both urban areas and public hotspots like hospitals, government offices and railway stations, so results reflect performance across different user environments. Commuters and people working at crowded locations can see how networks perform under heavy usage.
What happens next
TRAI has shared the detailed findings with each telecom service provider, asking them to take corrective action where performance fell short. The complete drive test reports with maps showing exact locations of coverage gaps and dropped calls are available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. Citizens with questions can contact TRAI’s Kolkata regional office at adv.kolkata@trai.gov.in or phone +91-33-22361401.