The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Thrissur District, Kerala LSA, during the month of July 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 analysed in real-time using advanced Software Systems.

TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted drive tests across City drive – 297.9 KMs, Hotspot locations - 10, Walk Test – 5.9 KMs and Highway drive of – 180.4 KMs in Thrissur District during 21^st July 2026 to 24^th July 2026 in Kerala LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Bengaluru. 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 Route Map: The following map provides overview of drive test routes indicating City drive, Inter-operator calling, Hotspots and Walk tests, as per the legends shown on the map:-

Key Parameters Assessed

1. Coverage Gap: Percentage of samples, for which signal strength observed less than the minimum prescribed signal strength for respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G).
2. Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time, Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS).
3. Call Silence Instance: Number of call silence instance occurred during the calls.
4. Data Servies: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate           

The overall mobile network performance in Thrissur District for the key parameters has been summarised below:-

1. Thrissur District

a) 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 577/38626 for Airtel, 1115/38579 for BSNL, 686/38365 for RJIL and 802/38871 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.

b) Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 0/347 for Airtel, 17/359 for BSNL, 0/348 for RJIL and 0/344 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed.

c) Call Silence Instance - Call silence instances, measured as the total number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total calls established, were 0/335 for Airtel, 3/321 for BSNL, 0/337 for RJIL and 35/329 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map Annexed.

d) Data Download and Upload Throughput:

i) Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 145.43 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 7.92 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 328.12 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 44.52 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

ii) Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 27.96 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.41 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 23.95 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 14.64 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Upload throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

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

2.  Highway Drive - Kochi to Thrissur to Calicut

a)    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 90/18406 for Airtel, 207/18366 for BSNL, 62/17686 for RJIL and 115/18345 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.

b)    Dropped Calls - Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 0/92 for Airtel, 2/94 for BSNL, 1/87 for RJIL and 2/93 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed.

c)    Call Silence Instance - Call silence instances, measured as the total number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total calls established, were 0/91 for Airtel, 9/92 for BSNL, 0/87 for RJIL and 7/91 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map Annexed.

d)    Data Download and Upload Throughput:

i)   Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 165.81 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 10.14 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 346.73 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 22.77 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

ii)  Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 38.36 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.17 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 29.92 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 13.70 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Upload throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.

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

Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT is as under:-

a)  City - The areas covered in the city drive are Vadanappally, Arimbur, Mannu, Mannuthy, Kuranchery, Kiralur, Kuttor, Punkunnam, Kechery, Kunnamkulam, Chavakkad, Pavaratty, Manalur, Irinjalakuda, Mala, Chalakudy, Puthukkad and Ollur etc. in Thrissur District.

b) Highway - Kochi to Thrissur to Calicut passing through Athani, Edappally, Varapuzha, Kodungallur, Thalikulam, Chavakkad, Ponnani, Valanchery and Paingottoor etc.

c) Hotspot - The hot spot locations, capturing stationary user experience, are Chalakudy Railway Station, District Hospital Thrissur, Government Medical College Hospital Thrissur, Hilite Mall Thrissur, Irinjalakuda KSRTC Bus Stand, Shakthan Thampuran Bus Stand, Thrissur Collectorate, Thrissur Corporation Office, Thrissur KSRTC Bus Stand, and Vadanapally.

d)    Walk Test - The walk tests conducted on 23^rd and 24^th July 2026, Guruvayur Temple, Thrissur Railway Station, and Thrissur Swaraj Round Walkway. etc.      

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.bengaluru@trai.gov.in or Regional Office of TRAI at Bengaluru RO can be contacted on telephone No. +91-80-22865004.

Click here to see Annexure

****

AMK/ ARJ

(Release ID: 2322247) Visitor Counter : 120