New Delhi: If you’re planning a summer trip to Ladakh, especially a drive through Leh, Nubra Valley and Pangong, there’s some important news on mobile network quality. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has just released its latest findings after conducting a detailed mobile signal test across the region. The tests were carried out in mid-June 2025 and covered more than 340 kilometres, across both city routes and remote highway stretches in high-altitude terrain.
For anyone heading to Ladakh in the coming weeks, TRAI’s report offers a real-world view of what to expect when it comes to calls, internet and network coverage. From Leh’s bustling markets to the winding roads of Khardung La and the banks of Pangong Tso, mobile performance was tested on all major telecom networks.
How the tests were conducted
Between 10 and 12 June, TRAI teams ran what’s called an Independent Drive Test (IDT) across Leh city, highway routes from Leh to Nubra Valley, Nubra to Pangong, and Pangong back to Leh. They also tested hotspot zones like SNM Hospital, Leh Airport, Shanti Stupa and EJM College. A special walk test was also conducted in the Leh Market area, capturing how mobile networks behave when users are on foot in crowded zones.
The total route tested included 41.3 km inside the city, 302 km along highways and 2 km on foot. Networks running on 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G were all evaluated to reflect usage across different types of handsets.
CSSR: Call Setup Success Rate (in %), CST: Call Setup Time (in seconds), DCR: Drop Call Rate (in %) & MOS: Mean Opinion Score. | Source: TRAI report
What did TRAI measure?
TRAI looked at both voice and data services. For calls, they checked parameters like Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Setup Time and speech clarity. For mobile internet, they looked at download and upload speeds, latency, jitter, packet drop and video streaming delays.
In auto-selection mode (where phones switch between 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G depending on availability), Airtel had a call setup success rate of 57.11%, RJIL (Jio) recorded 49.78%, and BSNL had 47.03%. In terms of call drops, Airtel’s drop rate stood at 9.70%, BSNL at 4.67% and Jio at 7.17%.
Source: TRAI
Which areas were tested?
City zones in Leh like Choglamsar, Spituk and Yurtung were part of the city drive. Institutions and transport hubs like SNM Hospital, EJM College, Lamdon School, Leh Airport and Shanti Stupa were chosen to simulate stationary users using mobile networks indoors or in slow-movement areas.
The highway testing covered the following stretches:
- Leh to Nubra Valley: via North Pullu, Khardung, Khalsar, Hunder
- Nubra to Pangong: via Shyok, Durbuk, Tangtse, Spangmik, Man, Merak
- Pangong to Leh: via Tsoltak, Zingral, Karu, Thiksey, Shey
These routes represent both high-speed corridors and some of the most popular tourist circuits in Ladakh.
Why this matters
For travellers, especially those relying on navigation apps or needing to stay connected, TRAI’s test gives a practical insight into which networks are more reliable in Ladakh’s challenging terrain. Many stretches across Khardung La or between Spangmik and Durbuk often experience signal fluctuations due to remoteness and altitude. Having this kind of data helps users pick the right operator before heading out.