TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality Across Vijayanagara District, Karnataka LSA

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Vijayanagara District, Karnataka LSA, during the month of August 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 – 439.8 KMs, Hotspot locations - 13, Walk Test – 7.6 KMs and Highway drive of – 74 KMs in Vijayanagara District during 11^th August 2026 to 14^th August 2026 in Karnataka 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 Vijayanagara District for the key parameters has been summarised below:-

1. Vijayanagara 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 3067/52309 for Airtel, 18287/48469 for BSNL, 2750/52578 for RJIL and 8930/51328 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 1/471 for Airtel, 37/425 for BSNL, 2/478 for RJIL and 8/467 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 13/533 for Airtel, 33/367 for BSNL, 10/459 for RJIL and 59/453 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 87.50 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 10.47 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 151.30 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 22.09 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 20.69 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.41 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 14.00 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 10.77 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 - Hosapete to Banavikallu via NH-50

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 208/5431 for Airtel, 1512/4759 for BSNL, 152/5409 for RJIL and 1063/5303 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 0/27 for Airtel, 3/23 for BSNL, 0/27 for RJIL and 3/28 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 0/23 for Airtel, 4/21 for BSNL, 1/21 for RJIL and 1/23 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 109.91 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 6.12 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 269.09 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 31.44 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 31.98 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 2.73 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 19.29 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 15.20 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 - Hampi, Kamalapura, Hosapete, Anekal, Mariyammanahalli, Chilakanahatti, Hampapatna, Hagaribommanahalli, Dharmasagara, Holagundi, Kotturu, Banavikallu, Gaddikeri, Alabur, Chigateri, Ittigi, Harapanahalli, and Haregondanahalli etc.

b)  Highway - Hosapete to Banavikallu passing through Mariyammanahalli, Danayakanakere, Chilakanahatti, Thimlapura, Shivapura, Kudligi and Kakuppi etc. 

c)    Hotspot - Achyutaraya Temple Complex Hampi, District Court Complex Hosapete, Government CHC Kamalapura, Hampi Utsav Grounds & Tourist Parking Area, Hosapete APMC Yard, Hosapete City Municipal Council Office, Kamalapura Archaeological Museum (ASI Museum), Karnataka One Centre Hosapete, Kotturu Bus Stand, Queen’s Bath Hampi, Superintendent of Police Office Hosapete, Tungabhadra Dam Entrance & Garden, and Vijayanagara Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Hosapete.

d)    Walk Test - The walk tests conducted on 11^th and 12^th August 2026, Hosapete Junction Railway Station, Lotus Mahal Hampi, Vijay Vittala Temple, and Virupaksha Temple Complex.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

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AMK/ARJ