Delhi Drive Test Puts Jio Ahead on Downloads, Airtel on Call Reliability, Vi on Uploads
TRAI's August 2026 drive test across New Delhi and Central Delhi measured different strengths among private carriers. Jio posted the top download speed at 287.91 Mbps, Airtel had no dropped calls, and Vi recorded the highest upload speed at 25.41 Mbps. MTNL lagged with 4.34 Mbps downloads, poor signal in 64.80 percent of voice samples, and a 15.49 percent dropped-call rate.
TRAI’s chosen agency assessed New Delhi and Central Delhi from 10–14 August 2026, using 322.9 km of driving, 11 hotspots, a 2.2 km walk, and one inter-operator calling point. Jio’s download result was 287.91 Mbps, ahead of Airtel’s 156.52 Mbps, Vi’s 39.57 Mbps, and MTNL’s 4.34 Mbps. MTNL’s network reached only 3G, while the three private carriers reached 5G.
Uploads were close among private operators: Vi 25.41 Mbps, Airtel 23.94 Mbps, Jio 23.31 Mbps; MTNL 1.17 Mbps. Vi had the smallest weak-signal share at about 1.01%, followed by Airtel at 1.64% and Jio at 1.69%. Airtel logged no call drops among 868 connected calls; Vi had one from 877, Jio two from 872, and MTNL 123 from 794.
These results may shape how Delhi residents and businesses choose mobile plans, especially heavy downloaders, remote workers, and upload-dependent creators. Airtel's call reliability could matter to voice-first users, while Vi's upload edge may appeal to content sharers. MTNL's weaker showing may reinforce concerns for its subscribers, potentially accelerating migration where alternatives exist. Still, route-based testing cannot capture every neighborhood or indoor condition, so consumer decisions may be influenced only partly by such findings.