TRAI Finds Strong 5G Speeds in Meghalaya Network Survey

TRAI tested key quality parameters including network coverage, call drops, call setup success, download and upload speeds, latency and speech quality.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the results of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya, along with the stretch from Ratha Cherre Khasia Punjee to Jowai on National Highway-6. The assessment, carried out in March 2026, examined the quality of voice and data services offered by major telecom operators in the region.

The exercise covered city routes, highway corridors, hotspot locations and walk-test areas to evaluate real-time mobile network performance. TRAI tested key quality parameters including network coverage, call drops, call setup success, download and upload speeds, latency and speech quality. The findings are intended to provide consumers with transparent information while encouraging telecom operators to improve service quality.

Reliance Jio and Airtel Lead in Data Performance

The report showed strong data performance from Reliance Jio and Airtel across both city and highway routes. In city drive tests, Reliance Jio recorded the highest average download speed at 97.89 Mbps, followed by Airtel at 72.24 Mbps. Vodafone Idea registered 25.45 Mbps, while BSNL recorded 9.54 Mbps. On the highway route, Reliance Jio again delivered the fastest average download speed at 122.77 Mbps. Airtel followed with 88.50 Mbps, while Vodafone Idea and BSNL recorded 23.35 Mbps and 4.37 Mbps, respectively.

Upload speed measurements showed Airtel leading the field. Airtel achieved an average upload speed of 14.50 Mbps in city areas and 20.22 Mbps on highways. Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and BSNL posted lower upload speed figures during the tests. The survey also found that the measured download speeds for Airtel, Jio and Vodafone Idea significantly exceeded the typical speeds declared by the operators.

Coverage Gaps and Call Quality Issues Remain

Despite strong data performance, the drive test identified coverage gaps and call quality issues in several locations. Vodafone Idea recorded the highest number of poor signal strength samples during both city and highway testing, while Reliance Jio reported the lowest number of weak signal samples in city areas. Call drop analysis showed BSNL and Vodafone Idea experiencing a higher number of dropped calls compared to Airtel and Reliance Jio. During city testing, BSNL recorded 34 dropped calls and Vodafone Idea 30, while Airtel and Reliance Jio reported five and two dropped calls, respectively.

TRAI also monitored call silence incidents, which occur when audio is interrupted for more than three seconds during a call. Such instances were observed across all networks, though the numbers varied by operator and location. The testing exercise covered key areas including Jowai, Khliehtyrshi, Nartiang, Shangpung and several other towns and villages. Highway assessments were conducted along NH-6 through locations such as Ratachera, Umkiyang, Sonapur, Lad Rymbai and Mukhla.

TRAI said the findings have been shared with telecom service providers for necessary corrective action. The regulator noted that the results reflect network performance at the specific locations and times when the tests were conducted.