The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Shimla & Solan and nearby areas Route under HP LSA, during the month of June 2026, for information of general telecom consumers. The purpose of this drive test is to assess and verify real time quality of mobile network services (both voice & data) provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). During the IDT, TRAI captures performance of TSPs for key Quality of Service (QoS) parameters like Coverage, Call Drop Rate (CDR), Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), data Download (DL) and Upload (UL) throughput etc., which are then published to inform Consumers and encourage TSPs to improve their services.

These IDTs have been designed to capture on ground mobile network performance of all TSPs across diverse usages environment like cities, hotspots, public transport hubs, etc.  In this type of drive testing, live data and voice sessions are established using SIM cards from all TSPs over 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks. Multiple advanced test handsets are used, and the sessions are monitored and analyzed in real-time using advanced Software Systems.

TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted drive tests across Highway Drive – 35.9 Km, City drive – 384.8 Km, Hotspot locations - 12, Walk Test - 4.9 Km and Inter Operator Calling at 01 location during 15^th June 2026 to 19^th June 2026 in HP LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Delhi. The observations presented in drive test reports represent the performance of the TSPs on the area / route under test on the day / time of conducting the drive test.

Drive test routes: The following map provides overview of drive test routes indicating Highway Drive, City drive, Hotspots, Walk tests & Inter-operator calling, as per the legends shown on the map: -

Figure-1: Drive test routes

Key Parameters Assessed

(a) Coverage Gap: Percentage of samples, for which signal strength observed less than the minimum prescribed signal strength for respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G).

(b) Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time, Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS).

(c) Call Silence Instance: Number of call silence instances occurred during the calls.

(d) Data Services: Download / Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate.

The overall mobile network performance in Shimla and nearby areas route for the key parameters has been summarized below: -

1. 1. Coverage Gap - The signal strength observed during voice testing on the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G), measured as the number of samples having poor signal strength out of the total samples collected, was 3553/45850 for Airtel, 7735/43507 for BSNL, 2118/45696 for RJIL and 10778/43236 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map of Annexure-I.
2. 2. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/ 3G/ 2G), measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 1/411 for Airtel, 47/389 for BSNL, 1/418 for RJIL and 20/387 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map of Annexure-I.
   3. Call Silence Instance - Call silence instances in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G), measured as the total number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total calls established, were 35/396 for Airtel, 50/326 for BSNL, 11/400 for RJIL and 41/359 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map of Annexure-I.
   4. Data Download and Upload Throughput:
3. 1. 1. Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 83.09 Mbps for Airtel (5G), 10.99 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 163.01 Mbps for RJIL (5G) and 10.30 Mbps for VIL (4G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map of Annexure-I.
4. 1. 2. Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 13.90 Mbps for Airtel (5G), 4.81 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 15.43 Mbps for RJIL (5G) and 3.32 Mbps for VIL (4G). Details of Upload throughput have been provided in the map of Annexure-I.

Locations of Dropped Calls and Call Silence instances can be seen by clicking red dot on the map of Annexure-I.

The overall mobile network performance in Solan and nearby areas route for the key parameters has been summarized below: -

1. Coverage Gap - The signal strength observed during voice testing on the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G), measured as the number of samples having poor signal strength out of the total samples collected, was 493/12912 for Airtel, 712/12833 for BSNL, 508/12713 for RJIL and 1191/12908 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map of Annexure-II.
2. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/ 3G/ 2G), measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 3/118 for Airtel, 11/119 for BSNL, 6/117 for RJIL and 5/118 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map of Annexure-II.
3. Call Silence Instance - Call silence instances in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G), measured as the total number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total calls established, were 11/109 for Airtel, 15/99 for BSNL, 12/111 for RJIL and 7/107 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map of Annexure-II.
4. Data Download and Upload Throughput:

i) Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 170.17 Mbps for Airtel (5G), 11.99 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 208.71 Mbps for RJIL (5G) and 8.77 Mbps for VIL (4G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map of Annexure-II.

ii) Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 26.31 Mbps for Airtel (5G), 6.35 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 26.55 Mbps for RJIL (5G) and 6.38 Mbps for VIL (4G). Details of Upload throughput have been provided in the map of Annexure-II.

Locations of Dropped Calls and Call Silence instances can be seen by clicking red dot on the map of Annexure-II.

The overall mobile network performance in Highway route from Solan to Shimla for the key parameters has been summarized below: -

1. Coverage Gap - The signal strength observed during voice testing on the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G), measured as the number of samples having poor signal strength out of the total samples collected, was 97/4403 for Airtel, 575/4086 for BSNL, 38/4406 for RJIL and 605/4238 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map of Annexure-III.
2. Dropped Calls - Dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/ 3G/ 2G), measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 1/22 for Airtel, 8/22 for BSNL, 0/22 for RJIL and 0/21 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map of Annexure-III.
3. Call Silence Instance - Call silence instances in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G), measured as the total number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total calls established, were 3/21 for Airtel, 7/25 for BSNL, 0/21 for RJIL and 1/23 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map of Annexure-III.
4. Data Download and Upload Throughput:

i) Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 81.98 Mbps for Airtel (5G), 11.20 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 126.64 Mbps for RJIL (5G) and 9.13 Mbps for VIL (4G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map of Annexure-III.

ii) Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was       observed as 13.73 Mbps for Airtel (5G), 4.31 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 14.87       Mbps for RJIL (5G) and 4.88 Mbps for VIL (4G). Details of Upload       throughput have been provided in the map of Annexure-III.

 

Locations of Dropped Calls and Call Silence instances can be seen by clicking red dot on the map of Annexure-III.

          Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT are as below: -

1. City - The areas covered in the city drive are Bijli, Panthaghati, Rajana, Junga, Sadhupul, Chail, Koti, Kufri, Sanjauli, New Shimla, Boileauganj, Bhutwa, Okru, Thog, Chaba, Basantpur, Datyar, Mashobra, Fagu, Theog, Chundi, Shillaru and Narkanda etc. under Shimla and nearby areas & Sector 6, Sector 3, Tipra, Kalka, Parwanoo, Taksal, Jangeshu waterfall, Garkhal, Dharampur, Deoghat, Chambaghat, Kotla Nala and Sumti etc.under Solan and nearby areas.
2. Highway - The area covered in the Highway route are Solan to Shimla via Chamabghat, Salogra, Kandaghat, Majhol, Kashmari, Tara Devi and Boileauganj etc.
3. Hotspot - The hotspot locations, capturing stationary user experience are Civil Hospital Chail, DAV School Shimla, District Court Shimla, District Court Solan, ESI Hospital Parwanoo, High Court Shimla, HP University Shimla, IGMC and Hospital Shimla, ISBT Shimla, ISBT Solan, Shri Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir Shimla & University Institute of Information Technology Shimla.
4. Walk Test - The walk test conducted on 18^th Jun 2026 & 19^th Jun 2026, covered Mall Road Shimla and Shimla Railway Station capturing mobile network behaviours in crowded pedestrian environments.

The findings of this IDT report have been shared with respective TSPs for taking further necessary action at their end. Detailed reports of IDT are made available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in.  For any clarification or additional information, an email can be sent to adv.ca@trai.gov or Regional Office of TRAI at Delhi RO can be contacted on telephone No. +91-11-20907772.

Click here to see Annexure

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NJ/ARJ

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