New Delhi, 30 September (H.S.): An independent network assessment conducted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in Assam’s Sonitpur district found Reliance Jio leading in average download speeds, while Airtel recorded the highest average upload speeds. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) registered the lowest average download and upload speeds among the four operators assessed.

According to the Ministry of Communications, TRAI conducted an independent assessment in August of the mobile network services provided by Airtel, BSNL, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea in Sonitpur district under the Assam Licensed Service Area (LSA). The exercise evaluated several parameters, including call drops, network coverage, call quality, and internet download and upload speeds.

Jio recorded an average download speed of 221.18 Mbps, followed by Airtel at 116.11 Mbps, Vodafone Idea at 20.04 Mbps and BSNL at 11.72 Mbps.

TRAI conducted the independent drive test across Sonitpur district from August 10 to 13. The exercise covered approximately 308 kilometres through drive testing, assessments at 10 hotspot locations and a 1.6-kilometre walk test. The assessment was supervised by TRAI’s Regional Office in Kolkata.

Airtel leads in upload speeds

Airtel recorded the highest average upload speed during the assessment at 21.09 Mbps. Jio registered an average upload speed of 15.98 Mbps, followed by Vodafone Idea at 6.69 Mbps and BSNL at 4.32 Mbps.

Jio and Airtel record zero call drops

In terms of call-drop performance, neither Airtel nor Jio recorded a single dropped call during the test. Airtel recorded zero dropped calls out of 311 calls tested, while Jio recorded zero drops among 316 calls.

Vodafone Idea recorded eight dropped calls out of 312, while BSNL recorded 301 dropped calls out of 476.

Network coverage was also assessed during the exercise. The number of samples classified as having poor signal strength stood at 1,766 for Airtel, 1,494 for Jio, 6,682 for Vodafone Idea and 18,494 for BSNL.

The assessment also covered several prominent locations, including Tezpur, Dhekiajuli, Tezpur University, Tezpur Medical College and Hospital and the Tezpur Head Post Office, as well as the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) bus stand and other key areas.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar