The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recently released findings of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Surat city and nearby areas to assess real-world mobile network performance for consumers. The exercise evaluated both voice and data services offered by major telecom service providers.

The drive tests were carried out by TRAI’s Regional Office, Jaipur, through an appointed agency between 3 and 7 November 2025, covering a city drive of 412 km, 14 hotspot locations and a 2 km walk test across Surat and surrounding areas. Performance was measured across multiple technologies, including 5G, 4G, 3G and 2G, using advanced test handsets and real-time monitoring systems.

For voice services in 3G and 2G modes, call setup success rates were recorded above 99 per cent for Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, while BSNL recorded lower performance on select parameters. Mean Opinion Scores for speech quality ranged from good to very good across networks.

In data services under auto-selection mode, Reliance Jio recorded the highest average download and upload speeds, followed by Airtel, while BSNL and Vodafone Idea showed comparatively lower throughput. Latency levels were lowest on Jio and Vodafone Idea networks.

The drive test covered key locations including Diamond Nagar, Udhna, Sachin INA, Vesu, Adajan, Katargam and Mota Varachha, among others. TRAI has shared the findings with the respective service providers for necessary corrective action and service improvement. The report aims to inform consumers and encourage operators to enhance network quality and user experience.