TRAI Testing Reveals Significant Gaps in Mobile Network Coverage Across Pune-Goa Highway and Sindhudurg District
PUNE – Mobile network performance remains highly inconsistent for commuters traveling from Pune toward the coast, according to the latest Independent Drive Test (IDT) report released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The field assessment, conducted under the supervision of TRAI’s Bengaluru regional office between April 14 and April 17, 2026, tracked real-time network coverage, call drops, and data speeds across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G connections. The investigation involved a 567.3 km highway drive test from Pune to Goa, running through Pirangut, Tamhini, Mangaon, Lonere, Poladpur, Khed, Tural, Sangameshwar, Rajapur, Talere, Kudal, and the Goa Dabolim International Airport region, as well as 451.7 km of city drives and an 8.5 km walk test within the Sindhudurg district of the Maharashtra LSA (Licensed Service Area).
Voice Service and Coverage Gaps Under Scrutiny
The independent drive tests utilized advanced test handsets and live data and voice sessions to record how service providers performed on key parameters, including coverage errors, call drop rates, call setup success rates, and instances of call silence. The observations reflected real-world conditions across cities, hotspots, and public transport hubs on the specific days of testing.
Urban testing within Sindhudurg’s key municipal areas included Kunkeshwar, Devgad, Wadde, Kasal, Kudal, Sawantwadi, Vengurla, Tarkarli, Malvan, and Achra. The report tracked data download and upload throughput alongside voice continuity metrics to provide a comprehensive look at regional telecom health.
Pedestrian Testing Identifies Market Dead Zones
To check how networks hold up for users on the move, engineers carried out specialized walk tests on April 16 and 17, 2026. These tests covered the internal roads of the Kudal MIDC area, the Kudal Railway Station area, the route from Malvan Jetty to Dandi Beach Road and Wyri, the Sawantwadi lakeside road loop, and the internal roads of Vengurla Market leading to the Camp Area. The primary objective was to evaluate network availability while walking on busy public roads.
Additionally, network stability was analyzed across 13 distinct tourist and commercial hotspots where stable network conditions are essential. These included Chivla Beach, Rock Garden, Devbag Beach, the Devgad Bus Stand and beach area, the Kankavali Bus Stand and market area, the Kankavali College Road to Court Road loop, Kunkeshwar Temple, Malvan Market, Mithabav Beach, the Oros Collectorate Office area, Sawantwadi Market, Sindhudurg Fort in Malvan, Tarkarli Beach, and the Vengurla Beach and jetty area.
Operators Formally Notified to Improve Service
TRAI confirmed that the detailed findings from the IDT report have been officially communicated to the concerned Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) for further necessary action at their level. The initiative aims to inform consumers and push operators toward making rapid infrastructure improvements to eliminate dropped calls and data lag.
