TechnologyVerified
Around Leh, Jio 5G averaged 267 Mbps and BSNL 4G 8 Mbps, TRAI finds
On the Nubra Valley–Pangong highway, 17 of 64 BSNL calls and 16 of 60 Jio calls dropped during the August drive test.
Mobile users around Leh got very different internet speeds depending on their operator, a drive test by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has found, with Jio's 5G averaging 267.13 Mbps for downloads and BSNL's 4G 8 Mbps.
TRAI's appointed agency tested networks from 17 to 21 August 2026 in the Jammu and Kashmir licensed service area, under the supervision of TRAI's Delhi regional office. The test covered a 62.6 km city drive, seven hotspots, a 1.1 km walk test in Leh Market and 396.3 km of highway towards Nubra Valley, Pangong and Sangam. Airtel, BSNL and Reliance Jio (RJIL) were tested.
Leh and nearby areas
- Download speed: Jio 267.13 Mbps (5G), Airtel 121.65 Mbps (5G), BSNL 8.00 Mbps (4G).
- Upload speed: Airtel 22.13 Mbps, Jio 21.20 Mbps, BSNL 4.87 Mbps.
- Dropped calls: Airtel 0 of 83, Jio 1 of 76, BSNL 5 of 77.
- Weak-signal samples: Airtel 583 of 9,318, Jio 770 of 8,371, BSNL 966 of 8,977.
On the highways
Calls dropped more often on the highway routes. On the Leh–Nubra Valley route, 12 of 108 Airtel calls, 13 of 95 BSNL calls and 4 of 85 Jio calls dropped. Average downloads were 122.16 Mbps on Jio, 109.57 Mbps on Airtel and 16.39 Mbps on BSNL.
On the Nubra Valley–Pangong route, 17 of 64 BSNL calls, 16 of 60 Jio calls and 11 of 67 Airtel calls dropped. More than half of Jio's signal samples (5,105 of 9,930) were weak. Airtel was fastest here, averaging 80.59 Mbps against Jio's 44.48 Mbps and BSNL's 8.86 Mbps.
On the Sakti–Sangam road, Jio averaged 203.25 Mbps, Airtel 96.97 Mbps and BSNL 6.00 Mbps. BSNL recorded 15 call-silence instances (gaps of more than three seconds) on 26 calls.
Why it matters
TRAI publishes these tests so that consumers can compare real-world service and to push operators to improve. The regulator says the results reflect performance on the routes tested at the time of testing.
What happens next
The findings have been shared with the operators "for taking further necessary action at their end". Detailed reports, with maps of dropped calls and coverage gaps, are on the TRAI website.
Source: official release by the Ministry of Communications, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (30 OCT 2026 2:44PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: TRAI assesses Mobile Network Quality across Leh and Nearby Areas Route under J&K LSA, during the month of August 2026.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2330377) issued by the Ministry of Communications on 30 OCT 2026 2:44PM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.TRAI assesses Mobile Network Quality across Leh and Nearby Areas Route under J&K LSA, during the month of August 2026 — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
