BSNL has worst call drop rate in 14 of 18 surveyed cities, shows Trai data

Despite plans to roll out 4G, BSNL continues to have the worst rate of call drops in cities nationwide, the latest series of drive tests conducted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in 18 Tier-3 cities have found. Vodafone Idea had the highest data download rates, across both 3G and 4G networks in the most number of cities, it also showed.

The drive tests are conducted by Trai on a regular basis to assess the network quality provided by cellular mobile telecom service providers for voice and data services. While the telecom operators submit performance monitoring reports to Trai regularly, the regulator also undertakes audit and assessment of service quality through independent agencies.

In the latest round, 15 cities were checked, apart from two highways (Meerut-Agra) and Gwalior-Guna, and one rail route (Raigarh to Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh). The locations in the latest set of drive tests are spread across the country and have widely varying levels of existing telecommunications infrastructure, officials said.

Data showed in seven out of the 18 cities surveyed, at least one of the telcos showed incidence of call drop exceeding more than the two per cent quality of service (QoS) benchmark set by the DoT for call drop when it came to 3G and 4G networks. 

Vodafone Idea had the highest data download and upload rates, across both 3G and 4G networks in the most number of cities.