New Delhi. : The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings of Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Satara, Maharashtra LSA, during the month of March 2026, for information of general telecom consumers. The purpose of this drive test is to assess and verify real time quality of mobile network services (both voice & data) provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). During the IDT, TRAI captures performance of TSPs for key Quality of Service (QoS) parameters like Coverage, Call Drop Rate (CDR), Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), data Download (DL) and Upload (UL) throughput etc., which are then published to inform Consumers and encourage TSPs to improve their services.
These IDTs have been designed to capture on ground mobile network performance of all TSPs across diverse usages environment like cities, hotspots, public transport hubs, etc. In this type of drive testing, live data and voice sessions are established using SIM cards from all TSPs over 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. Multiple advanced test handsets are used, and the sessions are monitored and analysed in real-time using advanced software systems.
TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted drive tests across City drive – 535.5 KMs, Hotspot locations – 15, Walk Test – 9.8 Kms and Highway drive – 103.3 Kms in Satara District from 10th March 2026 to 13th March 2026 in Maharashtra LSA. These tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office Bengaluru. The observations presented in drive test reports represent the performance of the TSPs on the area/ route under test on the day/ time of conducting the drive test.
Drive Test Route Map: The following map provides overview of drive test routes indicating City drive, Inter-operator calling, Hotspots and Walk tests, as per the legends shown on the map: –
Key Parameters Assessed
- Coverage Gap: Percentage of samples, for which signal strength observed less than the minimum prescribed signal strength for respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G).
- Voice Services: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time, Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS).
- Call Silence Instance: Number of call silence instance occurred during the calls.
- Data Servies: Download/ Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate
The overall mobile network performance in Satara District for the key parameters has been summarised below: –
a) Coverage Gap – The signal strength observed during voice testing on the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G), measured as the number of samples having poor signal strength out of the total samples collected, was 4033/57154 for Airtel, 16393/55159 for BSNL, 3467/57826 for RJIL and 4191/57458 for VIL. Details of the coverage gaps have been provided in the map Annexed.
b) Dropped Calls – Dropped calls, measured as the number of dropped calls out of the number of successfully established calls, were 5/515 for Airtel, 38/ 493 for BSNL, 6/ 524 for RJIL and 3/521 for VIL. Details of the dropped call locations have been provided in the map Annexed.
c) Call Silence Instance – Call silence instances, measured as the total number of silence instances observed for > 3 seconds out of the total calls established, were 23/ 498 for Airtel, 19/ 415 for BSNL, 16/ 502 for RJIL and 13/ 502 for VIL. Details of the call silence instance locations have been provided in the map Annexed.
d) Data Download and Upload Throughput:
i) Data Download performance (Overall): Average download speed was observed as 113.79 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 5.66 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 176.95 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 46.86 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Download throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.
ii) Data Upload performance (Overall): Average upload speed was observed as 19.33 Mbps for Airtel (5G/4G), 2.14 Mbps for BSNL (4G), 19.81 Mbps for RJIL (5G/4G) and 12.92 Mbps for VIL (5G/4G/2G). Detail of Upload throughput has been provided in the map Annexed.
Locations of Dropped Calls and Call Silence instances can be seen by clicking red dot on the map Annexed.
Details of drive test route and area covered during the IDT is as under: –
a) City – The areas covered in the city drive are Phaltan-Satara Rd, Ghadewadi, Laxminagar, Phaltan, Taradgaon, Lonand, Salpe, Shivthar, Wadhe, Pirwadi, Shendre, Umbraj, Malkapur, Karad, Masur, Padali, Rahimatpur, Shirambe, Koregaon, Satara-road (Padali), Nihalewadi, Bhuinj, Panchwad, S. T. Stand Wai, Panchgani, Satara Machutar, Bibhavi, Shahupuri, Panmalewadi, Guruwar Peth, Godoli, Chichner Vandan, Dhamner, Pawarwadi, Pusesavali, Aundh, Ambavade, Suryachiwadi, Vaduj, Ukride, Vardhangad and Triputi etc. in Satara City.
b) Highway – Pune to Satara passing through Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park, Pune, Shindevadi, Shivare, Kapurhol, Sarole, Shirwal, Bengrutwadi, Wele, Surur, Joshi Vihir, Panchwad, Khed and Pirwadi etc.
c) Hotspot – The hot spot locations, capturing stationary user experience, are District & Sessions Court Satara, District Collector Office Satara, Karad Bus Stand, Karad Municipal Council, Lonand Junction, Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Mahabaleshwar Temple, Panchgani St Stand, Phaltan Municipal Council, Rajpath Market Area Satara, Shri Yamai Devi Temple Aundh, Tehsildar Office Karad, Wai Municipal Council, Wai St Bus Stand, and Zilla Parishad Satara.
d). Walk Test – The walk tests conducted on 10th to 13th March 2026, covered Karad Railway Station, Main Market Mahabaleshwar, Satara New St Bus Stand to Market Yard, and Satara Railway Station. capturing mobile network behaviour in crowded pedestrian environments.
The findings of this IDT report have been shared with respective TSPs for taking further necessary action at their end. Detailed reports of IDT are made available on the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification or additional information, an email can be sent to adv.bengaluru@trai.gov.in or Regional Office of TRAI at Bengaluru RO can be contacted on telephone No. +91-80-22865004.
Annexure
- Satara city & nearby areas:
- Coverage Gap – The coverage distribution found less than the minimum specified signal strength for the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during voice testing, is as below:-
| Parameter | AIRTEL | BSNL | RJIL | VIL |
| Total Number of Samples captured on Drive test route | 57154 | 55179 | 57826 | 57458 |
| Number of Samples having poor signal strength | 4033 | 16393 | 3467 | 4191 |
Note: Signal strength has been considered poor if it falls below −110 dBm for 5G & 4G, −90 dBm for 3G, and −85 dBm for 2G.
Coverage Gap observed
- Dropped Calls – The TSP-wise details of dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/ 3G/ 2G) are as below:-
| Parameter | AIRTEL | BSNL | RJIL | VIL |
| Number of successful Calls Established | 515 | 493 | 524 | 521 |
| Number of dropped Calls | 5 | 38 | 6 | 3 |
Locations of Dropped Calls
Note: Dropped calls locations are shown in red color and which can be clicked to know the exact location (latitude and longitude) on the map
c). Call Silence Instance – The TSP-wise details of Call silence instance in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G) are as below: –
| Parameter | AIRTEL | BSNL | RJIL | VIL |
| Call Established
(within service provider network) |
498 | 415 | 502 | 506 |
| Number of silences calls for >3 Sec | 23 | 19 | 16 | 13 |
| Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec | 35 | 26 | 17 | 14 |
* NA – Not Applicable
Locations of Call Silence Instance
Note: Call silence instances are shown in red color and which can be clicked to know the exact location (latitude and longitude) on the map
d). Data Download and Upload throughput: The TSP-wise details of Average Download (DL) and Upload (UL) throughput against declared typical DL/UL Throughput for month, in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) are as below: –
- Download Throughput
| Parameter | Measured in | AIRTEL
(upto 5G) |
BSNL
(upto 4G) |
RJIL
(upto 5G) |
VIL
(upto 4G) |
| Typical Download throughput declared by TSP | (Mbits/s) | 39.68 | 5.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Average Download Throughput measured during IDT | (Mbits/s) | 113.79 | 5.66 | 176.95 | 46.86 |
Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only
- Upload Throughput
| Parameter | Measured in | AIRTEL
(upto 5G) |
BSNL
(upto 4G) |
RJIL
(upto 5G) |
VIL
(upto 4G) |
| Typical upload throughput declared by TSP | (Mbits/s) | 3.98 | 3.00 | 7.00 | 8.00 |
| Average Upload Throughput measured during IDT | (Mbits/s) | 19.33 | 2.14 | 19.81 | 12.92 |
Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only
2. Pune to Satara Highway Route:
- Coverage Gap – The coverage distribution found less than the minimum specified signal strength for the drive test route in auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) during voice testing, is as below:-
| Parameter | AIRTEL | BSNL | RJIL | VIL |
| Total Number of Samples captured on Drive test route | 7074 | 6660 | 6747 | 6944 |
| Number of Samples having poor signal strength | 300 | 560 | 161 | 198 |
Note: Signal strength has been considered poor if it falls below −110 dBm for 5G & 4G, −90 dBm for 3G, and −85 dBm for 2G.
Coverage Gap observed
- Dropped Calls – The TSP-wise details of dropped calls in auto-selection mode (5G/ 4G/ 3G/ 2G) are as below: –
| Parameter | AIRTEL | BSNL | RJIL | VIL |
| Number of successful Calls Established | 35 | 34 | 35 | 35 |
| Number of dropped Calls | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Locations of Dropped Calls
Note: Dropped calls locations are shown in red colour and which can be clicked to know the exact location (latitude and longitude) on the map
- Call Silence Instance – The TSP-wise details of Call silence instance in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G) are as below: –
| Parameter | AIRTEL | BSNL | RJIL | VIL |
| Call Established
(within service provider network) |
34 | 31 | 35 | 35 |
| Number of silences calls for >3 Sec | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Total number of silence instances for >3 Sec | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Locations of Call Silence Instance
Note: Call silence instances are shown in red color and which can be clicked to know the exact location (latitude and longitude) on the map
- Data Download and Upload throughput: The TSP-wise details of Average Download (DL) and Upload (UL) throughput against declared typical DL/UL Throughput for month, in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) are as below:-
(i) Download Throughput
| Parameter | Measured in | AIRTEL
(upto 5G) |
BSNL
(upto 4G) |
RJIL
(upto 5G) |
VIL
(upto 4G) |
| Typical Download throughput declared by TSP | (Mbits/s) | 39.68 | 5.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Average Download Throughput measured during IDT | (Mbits/s) | 113.12 | 8.73 | 261.99 | 25.88 |
Note: Plot is based on Dynamic Drive Test results only
(ii) Upload Throughput
| Parameter | Measured in | AIRTEL
(upto 5G) |
BSNL
(upto 4G) |
RJIL
(upto 5G) |
VIL
(upto 4G) |
| Typical upload throughput declared by TSP | (Mbits/s) | 3.98 | 3.00 | 7.00 | 8.00 |
| Average Upload Throughput measured during IDT | (Mbits/s) | 20.89 | 2.86 | 19.62 | 12.51 |
