New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the findings of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) assessing mobile network performance across Mumbai, revealing sharp differences in service quality among telecom operators.
The tests, conducted between January 20 and January 23, 2026, covered 214.8 kilometres across city routes, hotspot locations, railway stations and coastal stretches to evaluate real-world mobile network performance. Technologies assessed included 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G services.
According to the report, private operators Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea recorded a 100% call setup success rate, while state-owned MTNL posted a significantly lower success rate of 20.77% in auto-selection mode across network technologies.
The assessment also highlighted a stark contrast in drop call rates. Airtel and Vodafone Idea recorded zero drop calls, while Reliance Jio reported a 0.63% drop call rate. In comparison, MTNL registered a 45.34% drop call rate, indicating weaker service performance.
TRAI also flagged poor signal strength for MTNL across large sections of the test routes, including both city and coastal corridors, whereas the private operators showed minimal signal issues.
The regulator said the findings have been shared with telecom service providers for necessary corrective action. The assessment covered key urban locations, institutional hubs, transport corridors and the Atal Setu coastal route to capture user experience under diverse network conditions.
The drive tests are part of TRAI’s ongoing efforts to monitor telecom service quality and ensure operators maintain performance standards in high-density urban markets.