The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the findings of its latest drive test, offering a comprehensive assessment of mobile network quality across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and the Vadodara to Ahmedabad highway corridor in Gujarat. Conducted in February 2026, the report provides a real-world evaluation of voice and data performance across leading telecom service providers.
TRAI designed the drive test to reflect actual user experience by establishing live voice calls and data sessions using SIM cards from multiple operators. The tests covered diverse environments including urban zones, high-density hotspots, and transport corridors.
The exercise included 462.4 km of city drive tests, 14 hotspot locations, a 2.5 km walk test, and a 95.3 km highway stretch. Advanced smartphones and analytical tools were used to capture performance across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks, with data analyzed in real time and through specialized software systems.
In Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, the results highlight strong mobile network quality for voice services among private operators. Airtel and Reliance Jio achieved close to 100 percent call setup success rates, while Vodafone Idea also delivered a high success rate. BSNL, however, lagged behind in comparison.
Drop call rates were negligible for Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea, whereas BSNL recorded higher instances. Call setup time was fastest on Jio at 0.50 seconds, followed by Vodafone Idea and Airtel, while BSNL showed slower performance. Voice clarity, measured through Mean Opinion Score, was highest for Jio and Vodafone Idea, reinforcing their strong performance in urban voice connectivity.
The assessment of data services further underscores differences in mobile network quality. Reliance Jio emerged as the leader in 5G performance with an average download speed of 258.16 Mbps, significantly ahead of Airtel at 121.09 Mbps and Vodafone Idea at 55.09 Mbps.
In 4G services, Airtel recorded the highest download speed at 47.24 Mbps, closely followed by Jio at 41.81 Mbps, while Vodafone Idea and BSNL trailed. Latency results showed Jio delivering the lowest delay at 19.72 ms, indicating better responsiveness for real-time applications such as video calls and gaming.
On the Vadodara to Ahmedabad highway, maintaining consistent mobile network quality is critical for users on the move. Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea achieved 100 percent call setup success rates, demonstrating strong reliability in transit conditions. In contrast, BSNL recorded a lower success rate of 89.80 percent and a significantly higher drop call rate of 22.73 percent.
Call setup time remained fastest on Jio, followed by Vodafone Idea and Airtel, while BSNL again lagged. Voice quality scores were highest for Jio, with Vodafone Idea and Airtel also delivering stable performance.
Data performance along the highway reflected a similar trend. Reliance Jio led with an average download speed of 191.73 Mbps, followed by Airtel at 97.38 Mbps. Vodafone Idea delivered moderate speeds, while BSNL recorded significantly lower performance at 5.68 Mbps. Latency remained lowest on Jio, reinforcing its leadership in overall mobile network quality across both urban and highway environments.
The drive tests covered a wide range of locations including key areas of Gandhinagar, Kudasan, Adalaj, Hansol, Naroda, Bapunagar, and Maninagar, as well as the National Expressway 1 route connecting Vadodara and Ahmedabad via major towns such as Nadiad and Anand. This extensive coverage ensures that the findings reflect actual user experience across both dense city zones and high-speed travel routes.
The TRAI report clearly indicates that private telecom operators, particularly Reliance Jio and Airtel, are leading in mobile network quality in terms of speed, reliability, and overall user experience. Vodafone Idea maintains a consistent but mid-tier position, while BSNL continues to face challenges in both voice and data performance. As mobile connectivity becomes increasingly central to digital services, these insights provide valuable guidance for consumers and highlight the need for continued improvements in network infrastructure and service delivery.
SHAFANA FAZAL
