Reliance Jio delivered the fastest mobile download speed in parts of Sonitpur district in Assam, while Bharti Airtel recorded the highest upload speed, according to an August 2026 network performance assessment by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
TRAI’s drive test compared the real-world mobile network performance of Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (Vi) and BSNL across Sonitpur district, including Tezpur, Dhekiajuli, Thelamara, Balipara and several surrounding areas.
The results reveal substantial differences between operators in download speeds, upload speeds, network coverage and dropped-call performance.
Jio Records 221.18 Mbps Download Speed
Reliance Jio emerged as the clear leader in overall mobile download performance, recording an average speed of 221.18 Mbps across its 5G and 4G networks.
Airtel ranked second with download speed of 116.11 Mbps across 5G and 4G.
The gap was considerably wider for operators relying on 4G and 2G during the test. Vodafone Idea recorded download speed of 20.04 Mbps, while BSNL averaged 11.72 Mbps.
Jio’s download speed was approximately 1.9 times Airtel’s, 11 times Vi’s and almost 19 times BSNL’s.
The results also underline the performance advantage available to Jio and Airtel from their 5G networks. TRAI measured Jio and Airtel across 5G/4G, while Vi and BSNL were measured across 4G/2G in the overall throughput assessment.
Airtel Beats Jio in Mobile Upload Speed
The ranking changed when upload performance was considered.
Airtel delivered the fastest average upload speed at 21.09 Mbps, ahead of Jio at 15.98 Mbps.
Vodafone Idea ranked third with 6.69 Mbps, while BSNL recorded 4.32 Mbps.
Airtel’s upload performance was about 32 percent faster than Jio’s and more than three times Vi’s result.
Jio Records Lowest Coverage Gap
TRAI’s voice-testing data also showed significant differences in network coverage.
Jio recorded 1,494 poor-signal samples from 43,999 samples, translating into a coverage-gap rate of approximately 3.4 percent.
Airtel was close behind, with 1,766 poor-signal samples from 44,378, or about 4.0 percent.
The coverage gap was substantially higher for Vodafone Idea, which recorded 6,682 poor-signal samples from 44,109, equivalent to roughly 15.1 percent.
BSNL recorded the weakest result, with 18,494 poor-signal samples from 41,037 samples, indicating poor signal strength in approximately 45.1 percent of the samples.
| Operator | Poor-signal samples | Total samples | Approx. coverage gap |
| Reliance Jio | 1,494 | 43,999 | 3.4% |
| Bharti Airtel | 1,766 | 44,378 | 4.0% |
| Vodafone Idea | 6,682 | 44,109 | 15.1% |
| BSNL | 18,494 | 41,037 | 45.1% |
The figures indicate that Jio and Airtel provided considerably more consistent signal availability along the Sonitpur routes covered by TRAI’s test.
Airtel and Jio Record Zero Dropped Calls
Voice reliability produced another sharp distinction between operators.
Airtel recorded zero dropped calls from 311 successfully established calls, while Jio also achieved zero dropped calls from 316 calls.
Vodafone Idea registered 8 dropped calls from 312 successfully established calls, equivalent to a drop rate of approximately 2.6 percent.
BSNL recorded 301 dropped calls from 476 successfully established calls, translating into a dropped-call rate of approximately 63.2 percent during the test.
| Operator | Dropped calls | Successfully established calls | Approx. drop rate |
| Airtel | 0 | 311 | 0% |
| Reliance Jio | 0 | 316 | 0% |
| Vodafone Idea | 8 | 312 | 2.6% |
| BSNL | 301 | 476 | 63.2% |
The zero-drop results for Airtel and Jio indicate strong voice-call continuity across the tested route and conditions during the assessment period.
Jio Performs Best on Call Silence
TRAI also measured call-silence instances lasting more than three seconds.
Airtel registered 13 silence instances across 309 established calls, while BSNL recorded 7 across 253 calls.
Jio recorded 7 silence instances across 309 calls, and Vodafone Idea reported 8 across 310 calls.
On a proportional basis, Jio recorded the lowest rate at about 2.3 percent, followed closely by Vi at 2.6 percent and BSNL at 2.8 percent. Airtel’s rate was approximately 4.2 percent.
This parameter should be considered separately from dropped calls: a call can remain connected while users experience periods without audible speech.
TRAI Tests 308 Km Across Sonitpur
TRAI conducted the Sonitpur Independent Drive Test from August 10 to August 13, 2026, under the supervision of its Regional Office in Kolkata.
The assessment covered 308 km of city-drive routes, 10 stationary hotspot locations and 1.6 km of walk tests.
The city test covered locations including Tezpur, Dhekiajuli Bagan, Thelamara, Da-Parbatia Gaon, Gutlong Gaon, Dhalaibil, Kumar Gaon, Sonabil, Nepali Basti Gaon, Rangamati Gaon and Bindukuri Gaon.
TRAI also tested mobile performance at 10 important public locations, including Tezpur University, Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Tezpur Head Post Office, ASTC Bus Stand, District Court Tezpur, St. Xavier’s College and the Dhekiajuli Block Development Office.
Walk tests were conducted at North Jamuguri BPHC/CHC and Rangapara North Junction to capture network behaviour in pedestrian environments.
Jio Leads Overall Sonitpur Network Performance
TRAI’s August 2026 results show Reliance Jio leading Sonitpur’s mobile network performance in two important metrics — download speed and coverage.
Jio delivered the fastest average download speed at 221.18 Mbps and the lowest coverage-gap rate at approximately 3.4 percent, while also recording zero dropped calls.
Airtel delivered a strong overall performance, particularly in upload connectivity. Its 21.09 Mbps average upload speed was the highest among the four operators, while its 116.11 Mbps download speed placed it second behind Jio. Airtel also recorded zero dropped calls.
Vodafone Idea’s 20.04 Mbps download and 6.69 Mbps upload speeds were substantially below the two 5G operators, while its estimated 15.1 percent coverage gap indicates scope for network improvement in the tested areas.
BSNL showed the largest performance gap in TRAI’s Sonitpur assessment. Its average download speed was 11.72 Mbps, upload speed was 4.32 Mbps, and approximately 45.1 percent of its voice-test samples showed poor signal strength. The operator also recorded 301 dropped calls from 476 successfully established calls.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH