The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released findings from its Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Shimla, Solan, and nearby areas in Himachal Pradesh LSA during June 15-19, 2026. The assessment aimed to verify real-time quality of mobile network services (voice and data) provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) by measuring key Quality of Service parameters including coverage, call drop rate, call setup success rate, and data download/upload throughput.

Testing Methodology and Scope

The drive test covered 35.9 km of highway routes, 384.8 km of city drives, 12 hotspot locations, and 4.9 km of walk tests, with inter-operator calling tested at 1 location. Testing was conducted under TRAI Regional Office Delhi supervision using multiple advanced test handsets that established live data and voice sessions across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. The geographical coverage included Bijli, Panthaghati, Rajana, Junga, Sadhupul, Chail, Koti, Kufri, Sanjauli, New Shimla, Boileauganj, and other areas in Shimla region; Sector 6, Sector 3, Tipra, Kalka, Parwanoo, Taksal, and other areas in Solan region; and the highway route from Solan to Shimla via Chambaghat, Salogra, Kandaghat, and other points.

Performance Results by Location

Shimla and Nearby Areas

Coverage Gap (poor signal samples/total samples): Airtel 3,553/45,850; BSNL 7,735/43,507; RJIL 2,118/45,696; VIL 10,778/43,236.

Dropped Calls (drops/successful calls): Airtel 1/411; BSNL 47/389; RJIL 1/418; VIL 20/387.

Call Silence Instances (>3 seconds): Airtel 35/396; BSNL 50/326; RJIL 11/400; VIL 41/359.

Data Download Throughput: Airtel 83.09 Mbps (5G); BSNL 10.99 Mbps (4G); RJIL 163.01 Mbps (5G); VIL 10.30 Mbps (4G).

Data Upload Throughput: Airtel 13.90 Mbps (5G); BSNL 4.81 Mbps (4G); RJIL 15.43 Mbps (5G); VIL 3.32 Mbps (4G).

Solan and Nearby Areas

Coverage Gap: Airtel 493/12,912; BSNL 712/12,833; RJIL 508/12,713; VIL 1,191/12,908.

Dropped Calls: Airtel 3/118; BSNL 11/119; RJIL 6/117; VIL 5/118.

Call Silence Instances: Airtel 11/109; BSNL 15/99; RJIL 12/111; VIL 7/107.

Data Download Throughput: Airtel 170.17 Mbps (5G); BSNL 11.99 Mbps (4G); RJIL 208.71 Mbps (5G); VIL 8.77 Mbps (4G).

Data Upload Throughput: Airtel 26.31 Mbps (5G); BSNL 6.35 Mbps (4G); RJIL 26.55 Mbps (5G); VIL 6.38 Mbps (4G).

Highway Route (Solan to Shimla)

Coverage Gap: Airtel 97/4,403; BSNL 575/4,086; RJIL 38/4,406; VIL 605/4,238.

Dropped Calls: Airtel 1/22; BSNL 8/22; RJIL 0/22; VIL 0/21.

Call Silence Instances: Airtel 3/21; BSNL 7/25; RJIL 0/21; VIL 1/23.

Data Download Throughput: Airtel 81.98 Mbps (5G); BSNL 11.20 Mbps (4G); RJIL 126.64 Mbps (5G); VIL 9.13 Mbps (4G).

Data Upload Throughput: Airtel 13.73 Mbps (5G); BSNL 4.31 Mbps (4G); RJIL 14.87 Mbps (5G); VIL 4.88 Mbps (4G).

Additional Testing Details

Hotspot testing covered 12 locations including Civil Hospital Chail, DAV School Shimla, District Courts Shimla and Solan, ESI Hospital Parwanoo, High Court Shimla, HP University Shimla, IGMC and Hospital Shimla, ISBT Shimla and Solan, Shri Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir Shimla, and University Institute of Information Technology Shimla. Walk tests were conducted on June 18-19, 2026, covering Mall Road Shimla and Shimla Railway Station to capture mobile network behavior in crowded pedestrian environments. The findings have been shared with respective TSPs for necessary action, and detailed reports are available on TRAI's website at www.trai.gov.in.