The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its Independent Drive Test (IDT) findings for the North-East (LSA), covering extensive city routes of Shillong city and East Khasi Hills district of the state of Meghalaya in the month of September 2025. The drive tests, conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office, Kolkata, were designed to capture real-world mobile network performance across diverse usage environments- Urban Zones, Institutional Hotspots, rural residential areas, tourist spots etc. Between 01st September 2025 and 5th September 2025, TRAI teams conduced detailed tests across Shillong city and East Khasi Hills district in the state of Meghalaya covering 269.4 Km of city drive test, 9 Hotspot locations and 1.6 Km of walk test.
Technologies evaluated included 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, reflecting the service experience of users across multiple handset capabilities. The findings of the IDT have already been intimated to all the TSPs concerned. Key Parameters Assessed: a) Voice Services, b) Data Services. The overall mobile network performance in Agartala city and adjoining areas is summarized below: Call Setup Success Rate- Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have call setup success rate of 96.34%, 73.63%, 99.12% and 80.20% respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G). Drop Call Rate- Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have drop call rate of 2.46%, 12.19%, 0.89% & 3.49% respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G). 5G Data Services delivered maximum average download speed of 157.15 Mbps and maximum average upload speed of 10.89 Mbps in city drive.
In Shillong city and East Khasi Hills district, the assessment included the areas of Jorabat, Byrnihat, Umrai, Umtrew, Bhoriymbong, Umiam, Mawkdok, and Mawsynram etc. TRAI also evaluated real-world conditions at (i) Administrative Block Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, (ii) Elephant Falls Shillong, (iii) IIM Shillong New Building Admin Block, (iv) ISBT Shillong Mawlai-Mawiong, (v) Mawphlang Sacred Forest, (vi) Mawsmai Cave Cherrapunji, (vii) Police Bazaar, (viii) Seven Sisters Waterfall Cherrapunji, (ix) Umiam Lake through static testing and at (i) Civil Hospital Lachumiere, Shillong, (ii) Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and (iii) Ward’s Lake, through walk-test.