Jio triumphs with double the download speed of Airtel in TRAI’s Independent Drive Test

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 29, 2025

Reliance Jio, Odisha’s leading digital service provider, has once again asserted its technological dominance by delivering the fastest mobile data speeds in the latest Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The comprehensive tests, held from August 19 to 22, 2025, covered Rourkela city and the Bhubaneswar–Rourkela highway under the Odisha Licensed Service Area (LSA). The findings revealed that Jio’s overall download speed was twice that of its nearest competitor, Airtel, reinforcing Jio’s leadership in network performance and reliability.

According to TRAI’s report, Jio recorded the highest overall data download speed of 191.10 Mbps, significantly outperforming Airtel’s 96.48 Mbps. Vodafone Idea (VI) and BSNL followed with much lower speeds of 17.73 Mbps and 3.9 Mbps, respectively. Even in high-traffic hotspots, Jio outshone the competition with a 5G download speed of 219.43 Mbps, while Airtel registered 145.66 Mbps. When it came to 4G performance in hotspots, Jio again led with 39.77 Mbps, followed by Airtel at 36.64 Mbps, VI at 17.02 Mbps, and BSNL at 4.4 Mbps. In terms of 5G upload speed in hotspot areas, Airtel led with 30.77 Mbps, closely followed by Jio with 25.40 Mbps. Jio also maintained a robust overall upload speed of 18.4 Mbps, showcasing consistent performance across network parameters.

The drive tests were part of TRAI’s routine Quality of Service (QoS) assessment to gauge real-world mobile network performance across diverse usage environments, including urban centers, rural stretches, institutional hotspots, and highways. The Rourkela city test covered areas such as Timjore, Lathikata, Hathibura, Koel Nagar, Panposh Road, and Pitamahal Dam Road, while a walk test was conducted at Rourkela Railway Station. TRAI also evaluated connectivity and user experience at critical public locations such as the Collector’s Office, District and Sessions Court, Government Medical Hospital, Municipal Corporation, NIT Rourkela, Rourkela Steel Plant, and the STI Market Complex.

For the Bhubaneswar–Rourkela Highway, spanning over 331 kilometers, the test route included several key regions like Sunaparbat, Lohadar, Raniberna, Banki, Chandiposh, Musabira, Barghat, Darjing, and Kamakhyanagar, among others. The tests aimed to provide a comprehensive picture of how telecom networks perform for users traveling across major commercial and industrial corridors of the state.

Reliance Jio’s superior performance in TRAI’s latest assessment reaffirms its commitment to providing high-quality digital connectivity and seamless internet access across Odisha. Its extensive 4G and 5G infrastructure continues to power the state’s digital growth story, ensuring better voice clarity, lower latency, and ultra-fast data speeds.

As per TRAI’s latest telecom subscription data, Jio remains the undisputed leader in Odisha across wireless, wireline, and 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) segments. The company serves over 1.67 crore mobile subscribers and more than 6.14 lakh home broadband users in the state. This growth is driven by Jio’s sustained investment in network expansion, technological innovation, and customer-centric digital solutions.

The Independent Drive Test, supervised by TRAI’s Regional Office in Hyderabad, validates Jio’s leadership not just in speed but also in service reliability and coverage. By consistently outperforming competitors across parameters, Jio continues to set new benchmarks for the telecom industry, bringing the vision of a truly Digital India closer to reality — empowering millions of users across cities, towns, and rural landscapes of Odisha with next-generation connectivity.