The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released findings from its Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted across Saran District (including Chhapra city) and Siwan District in Bihar Licensed Service Area (LSA). The tests were undertaken during September 9–12, 2025 under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office, Kolkata, to evaluate real-world mobile network performance across urban, semi-urban, and rural environments.
Scope and Coverage
The assessment covered 309.1 km of city routes, 10 hotspot locations, and 2.7 km of walk tests in prominent localities including Chhapra, Siwan, Sonepur, Nagra, Deuria, and Gopalpur.
Technologies tested included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, reflecting the overall user experience across multiple handset capabilities.
Testing was also conducted at key institutional and public locations, such as:
- Civil Court Siwan
- Daroga Ray College, Ayodhyapuri
- Government Engineering College, Siwan
- Government Medical College and Hospital, Chhapra
- Jai Prakash University, Chhapra
- Sadar Hospitals (Chhapra & Siwan)
- Siwan Bus Stand and Sonepur Mela Grounds
- Chhapra, Siwan, and Sonepur Railway Stations (walk-test locations)
Key Quality Parameters Assessed
TRAI evaluated both voice and data service parameters, including:
- Voice: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Call Drop Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time (CST), Call Silence Rate, Speech Quality (MOS), and Coverage.
- Data: Download/Upload Throughput, Latency, Jitter, Packet Drop Rate, and Video Streaming Delay.
The results offer an overview of the service quality provided by major telecom operators — Airtel, BSNL, Reliance Jio (RJIL), and Vodafone Idea (Vi).
Performance Summary: Voice Services
| Operator | Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR) | Drop Call Rate (DCR) | Remarks |
| Airtel | 100.00% | 0.00% | Excellent call reliability |
| BSNL | 79.73% | 5.60% | Below benchmark; needs improvement |
| Reliance Jio (RJIL) | 100.00% | 0.00% | Excellent performance |
| Vodafone Idea (Vi) | 96.15% | 1.00% | Consistently stable network |
5G Data Performance Highlights
- Maximum Average Download Speed: 171.90 Mbps
- Maximum Average Upload Speed: 21.74 Mbps
- Tests conducted primarily across city routes in Saran and Siwan indicate high throughput for 5G users, especially in Chhapra city and nearby urban areas.
Testing Methodology
All assessments were conducted using TRAI-prescribed test equipment and standardized protocols, ensuring consistent evaluation across operators and technologies.
The auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G) was used to simulate typical user scenarios and to capture transition performance between networks.
Observations and Recommendations
- Airtel and Jio showed excellent network consistency with near-perfect call setup and zero call drops.
- Vodafone Idea (Vi) maintained acceptable standards, though minor improvements in call setup times could enhance user experience.
- BSNL lagged behind other operators in both call setup success and drop rates, indicating the need for network modernization in the region.
- 5G performance demonstrated strong potential, particularly in urban pockets like Chhapra, suggesting growing deployment and optimization in Bihar LSA.
Access to Full Report
The detailed test report is available on the TRAI website: www.trai.gov.in
For clarifications, stakeholders may contact Shri Kaushik Mukherjee, Advisor (Regional Office, Kolkata) at adv_kolkata@trai.gov.in or +91-33-2236 141.
Conclusion
TRAI’s assessment reflects steady progress in mobile network quality across Bihar, particularly in Saran and Siwan districts, with strong 5G performance emerging as a highlight. Continuous monitoring and cooperation with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) are expected to further improve connectivity and service reliability in the region.