Jio Delivers Speed, Airtel Wins On Voice—TRAI Drive Test Reveals Gaps Across All Networks

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released results from its Independent Drive Tests (IDTs) for May 2025, conducted across 13 cities and key transit routes. The report evaluates on-ground performance of Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea (Vi), and BSNL across 2G to 5G networks, covering both voice and data quality.

Reliance Jio emerged as the fastest data network, clocking top download speeds of 355 Mbps (megabits per second) in Ahmedabad and 283 mbps in Chennai. However, its performance wasn’t flawless. In Himachal Pradesh's Una and Mandi, it recorded a drop call rate of 0.66%, and call mute issues in up to 5.8% of 5G/4G calls in Karnataka's Chikmagaluru—indicating inconsistency in hilly or low-density areas.

According to the report, Bharti Airtel provided the most reliable voice service, achieving 100% Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR) in cities like Chennai and Haryana's Panipat, and extremely low drop call rates. But it showed voice quality gaps in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, where setup time surged to over 12 seconds—far above acceptable levels—likely due to network congestion or backhaul delays. Airtel also showed higher silence/mute rates in several cities, including 4.17% in Chikmagaluru, suggesting patchy VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol or internet that enables voice calls) quality in some zones.

Vodafone Idea gave a mixed signal—its CSSRs (Call Setup Success Rate or calls placed successfully) in cities like Ahmedabad and Chennai recorded strong performance but struggled in Chikmagaluru (73.81% CSSR) and drop call rates spiked above 4% in Ranchi. Inconsistent performance across rural and urban locations continues to hamper user experience.

BSNL, the state-run operator, lagged in almost all areas. Call drops reached up to 15% in Una and Mandi and voice quality (MOS) was poor across the board. Data speeds remained under 7 Mbps, rendering the network unfit for most modern data needs.

Snapshot of TRAI Drive Test If You're A Consumer:

• Jio and Airtel lead, but neither is immune to regional performance dips. Always test the network locally before committing.

• For voice clarity, Airtel remains a safe bet, barring select areas.

• For top-tier data speeds, Jio dominates—but Airtel matches closely in Chennai and Panipat.

• BSNL and Vi users may face frequent call drops, lower speeds, and service reliability issues—especially in tier-2 and tier-3 areas.

• TRAI’s results signal progress in India’s telecom infrastructure, but also highlight persistent coverage gaps—even among the top providers.