TRAI Evaluates Network Quality on Bolpur Shantiniketan to New Jalpaiguri Railway Route in West Bengal
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has published its Independent Drive Test (IDT) results for the West Bengal Licensed Service Area, specifically focusing on the railway route from Bolpur Shantiniketan to New Jalpaiguri. Conducted in July 2025, this comprehensive assessment aimed to evaluate the mobile network performance experienced by passengers along the railway line. The findings, which cover various mobile technologies, have been communicated to all relevant telecom service providers.
Drive Test Overview
On July 25, 2025, TRAI teams undertook an extensive drive test along the 418-kilometer railway route from Bolpur Shantiniketan to New Jalpaiguri. This initiative was executed under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office in Kolkata. The evaluation included a range of mobile technologies, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, to reflect the service quality experienced by users with different handset capabilities. The results of this drive test have been shared with all concerned telecom service providers, ensuring that they are informed of the current state of mobile network performance along this critical transportation corridor.
Key Performance Metrics
The drive test assessed several key parameters for both voice and data services. For voice services, the metrics included Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time, and overall coverage. In terms of data services, the evaluation focused on download and upload throughput, as well as latency. The results indicated that Airtel achieved a 100% Call Setup Success Rate, while BSNL recorded a significantly lower rate of 58.18%. The Drop Call Rates varied, with Airtel at 1.89% and VIL at 20.83%.
For data services, the average download speed across the tested networks was 121.47 Mbps, with an average upload speed of 11.38 Mbps. This performance assessment included several key railway stations along the route, such as Sainthia, Rampurhat, New Farakka Junction, Malda Town, and Kishanganj, providing a comprehensive overview of the mobile network capabilities in the region.
Detailed Findings on Voice Services
The drive test results highlighted significant differences in voice service performance among the telecom operators. Airtel led with a Call Setup Success Rate of 100%, while BSNL lagged behind at 58.18%. The Call Setup Times also varied, with Airtel taking an average of 2.07 seconds, compared to BSNL’s 3.04 seconds. The Drop Call Rates were another critical metric, showing Airtel at 1.89%, RJIL at 1.85%, while VIL had a notably higher rate of 20.83%. These findings underscore the varying levels of service quality experienced by users along the railway route.
Insights on Data Services
In terms of data services, the drive test revealed a mixed performance among the telecom operators. Airtel’s average download speed was recorded at 49.30 Mbps, while BSNL’s performance was significantly lower at just 2.14 Mbps. RJIL excelled with an impressive average download speed of 121.47 Mbps, while VIL managed 16.04 Mbps. The average upload speeds also varied, with Airtel at 11.38 Mbps and BSNL at 2.62 Mbps. Latency measurements showed that RJIL had the best performance with a 50th percentile latency of 25.20 ms, while Airtel, BSNL, and VIL recorded latencies of 52.75 ms, 46.05 ms, and 46.43 ms, respectively. These insights provide a clear picture of the data service landscape along the railway route, highlighting areas for improvement and competition among service providers.
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