If you’ve ever cursed your phone while travelling through the lush hills and beaches of southern Odisha, the latest TRAI report has answers — and some surprising winners.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings from its Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted between 23–25 April 2026 across Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts of the Odisha Licensed Service Area.
Covering 446 kilometres of city routes plus eight popular hotspots — including Gopalpur Beach, Ganjam Railway Station, Paralakhemundi Market and Rayagada Market — the test measured real-world voice and data performance using live SIM cards from Airtel, BSNL, Jio (RJIL) and Vi (VIL).
The Standout Performer: Jio
Reliance Jio delivered the clearest victory on data. With an average download speed of 186.07 Mbps and upload of 13.46 Mbps, Jio left competitors far behind. It also recorded the lowest “no coverage” samples (just 975 out of 44,323) during voice testing.
Airtel came in a strong second on data with 81.74 Mbps download and 18.09 Mbps upload — well above its declared typical speeds.
BSNL Faces Tough Questions on Coverage
BSNL struggled the most with coverage. It recorded the highest number of samples with poor signal strength (14,768 out of 35,424) and the highest call drop rate (33 drops out of 308 calls). Its average download speed stood at just 6.71 Mbps (on 3G).
Vi Shows Promise on Voice Reliability
Vi (Vodafone Idea) had a mixed but noteworthy performance — zero dropped calls out of 156 established calls and decent upload speeds (9.63 Mbps). However, it showed the highest “no coverage” samples (13,448 out of 17,533), indicating patchy reach in some areas.
Quick Comparison Snapshot
|
Parameter
|
Airtel
|
BSNL
|
Jio (RJIL)
|
Vi (VIL)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Avg. Download Speed
|
81.74 Mbps
|
6.71 Mbps
|
186.07 Mbps
|
17.91 Mbps
|
|
Avg. Upload Speed
|
18.09 Mbps
|
3.54 Mbps
|
13.46 Mbps
|
9.63 Mbps
|
|
Dropped Calls
|
10/325
|
33/308
|
7/406
|
0/156
|
|
No Coverage Samples
|
6,939
|
4,807
|
975
|
13,448
|
(All figures from TRAI Independent Drive Test, April 2026)
The tests were conducted under the supervision of TRAI’s Regional Office Hyderabad using advanced handsets and real-time monitoring software.
Results reflect performance on the specific routes and timings of the drive and are meant to help consumers make informed choices while pushing operators to improve. “These drive tests give a transparent, ground-level view of what subscribers actually experience,” TRAI noted in its release.
Detailed maps showing coverage gaps, dropped call locations and throughput heatmaps are available on the official TRAI website.
Bottom line: If lightning-fast data is your priority in these districts, Jio is currently the clear leader. For voice reliability, Vi performed impressively with no drops. Airtel offers a solid all-round experience, while BSNL needs urgent attention on coverage and capacity in the region.
