The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India conducted independent drive tests in January 2026 along the coastal route of the rivers Herobhanga, Bidyadhari and Datta in the Sundarban area of West Bengal, covering 41.0 km and one hotspot under supervision of the TRAI regional office, Kolkata. The tests assessed real-world mobile network performance across village residential areas, tourist locations and businesses, and evaluated technologies from two G to five G to reflect handset experience.

Voice metrics showed Airtel and RJIL had a call setup success rate of 100.00 per cent, BSNL 18.37 per cent and VIL 91.61 per cent in auto selection mode. Drop call rates were zero point zero zero per cent for Airtel and VIL, eight point eight nine per cent for BSNL and zero point six eight per cent for RJIL. Call setup times averaged one point nine one, seven point two zero, zero point seven five and one point five three seconds for Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL.

Data testing indicated that five G delivered a maximum average download speed of 60.40 Mbps and a maximum average upload speed of 17.49 Mbps across the coastal drive. Overall average download speeds were 58.81 Mbps for Airtel, 3.24 Mbps for BSNL, 60.40 Mbps for RJIL and 21.65 Mbps for VIL; upload speeds were 8.33 Mbps, 3.58 Mbps, 17.49 Mbps and 6.60 Mbps and 50th percentile latency figures were 69.83 ms, 154.01 ms, 34.79 ms and 47.97 ms for Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL.

Poor signal strength in auto selection mode during voice testing affected four point two seven per cent for Airtel, 25.81 per cent for BSNL, nine point six four per cent for RJIL and 11.74 per cent for VIL; during data testing it affected 24.44 per cent, 24.81 per cent, 25.95 per cent and 11.76 per cent. The assessment included Jharkhali, Amlamethi, Sajnekhali, Sonagar and Gadkhali and static testing was carried out at Jhore Jole Jongole Eco Heritage Resort. The authority reported that tests used TRAI suggested equipment and standardised protocols and that full results are on the TRAI website.