TRAI Mobile Network Quality Assessment for Sonitpur District, Assam

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings from an Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Sonitpur district in Assam during August 2026. The assessment aimed to verify real-time quality of mobile network services (both voice and data) provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) including key Quality of Service parameters such as coverage, call drop rate, call setup success rate, and data download/upload throughput.

The drive testing was conducted from 10th to 13th August 2026 under the supervision of TRAI Regional Office Kolkata, covering 308.0 KM of city drives, 10 hotspot locations, and 1.6 KM of walk tests. The tests used multiple advanced handsets with SIM cards from all TSPs over 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks, monitoring sessions in real-time using advanced software systems.

Key Performance Metrics

Coverage gap analysis revealed significant disparities among providers. For voice testing in auto-selection mode, Airtel showed 1,766 poor signal samples out of 44,378 total samples (4.0% gap), BSNL exhibited 18,494 poor signals out of 41,037 samples (45.1% gap), RJIL had 1,494 poor signals out of 43,999 samples (3.4% gap), and VIL showed 6,682 poor signals out of 44,109 samples (15.2% gap).

Call drop rates varied substantially between providers. Airtel had 0 dropped calls out of 311 established calls (0% drop rate), BSNL experienced 301 dropped calls out of 476 established calls (63.2% drop rate), RJIL had 0 dropped calls out of 316 established calls (0% drop rate), and VIL had 8 dropped calls out of 312 established calls (2.6% drop rate).

Call silence instances (silence >3 seconds) were observed across all providers: Airtel had 13 instances out of 309 calls (4.2%), BSNL had 7 instances out of 253 calls (2.8%), RJIL had 7 instances out of 309 calls (2.3%), and VIL had 8 instances out of 310 calls (2.6%).

Data performance showed RJIL leading in download speeds with 221.18 Mbps average on 5G/4G networks, followed by Airtel at 116.11 Mbps (5G/4G), VIL at 20.04 Mbps (4G/2G), and BSNL at 11.72 Mbps (4G/2G). Upload speeds were highest for Airtel at 21.09 Mbps (5G/4G), followed by RJIL at 15.98 Mbps (5G/4G), VIL at 6.69 Mbps (4G/2G), and BSNL at 4.32 Mbps (4G/2G).

Geographic Coverage

The testing covered multiple locations including Da-Parbatia Gaon, Gutlong Gaon, Parmai Gauli Gaon, Dhalaibil, No.1 Malijan, Tezpur, Kumar Gaon, Uhani Pathar Batabari, Dekeri Gaon, No.1 Thakurbari T.E, Bindukuri Gaon, Rangamati Gaon, Sonabil, Nepali Basti Gaon, Thelamara, Natun Pam Gaon, Kukura-Khaiti, and Dhekiajuli Bagan.

Hotspot testing included 10 stationary locations: ASTC Bus Stand Mahabhairab Tezpur, Dhekiajuli Block Development Office, District Court Tezpur, Narengkati Higher Secondary School, North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management Dolabari, St. Xaviers College Goraimari, Tezpur Head Post Office, Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Tezpur University Napaam, and Udmari Gaon Panchayat Balipara.

Walk tests were conducted at North Jamuguri BPHC/CHC Panigaon Dhalaibil and Rangapara North Junction No.1 Thakurbari T.E to assess mobile network behavior in crowded pedestrian environments.

The findings have been shared with respective TSPs for necessary corrective actions, and detailed reports are available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. For clarifications, stakeholders can contact TRAI's Kolkata Regional Office at +91-33-22361401 or adv.kolkata@trai.gov.in.