{"id":3667,"date":"2022-08-26T19:39:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T19:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/?p=3667"},"modified":"2022-08-26T19:39:17","modified_gmt":"2022-08-26T19:39:17","slug":"coverage_maps_bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/coverage_maps_bad\/","title":{"rendered":"Why are mobile coverage maps so bad?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Mobile operators are notoriously reluctant to release useful coverage information. Individual operator coverage maps are generally useless. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtel.co.zm\/openNetworks\">Airtel Zambia<\/a> is a classic example &#8211; as you zoom in the map abandons any hope of showing coverage and just highlights specific spots where there is (may be?) coverage:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-3669 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.20.54-AM-300x215.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"426\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.20.54-AM-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.20.54-AM-768x552.png 768w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.20.54-AM-1024x735.png 1024w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.20.54-AM-420x302.png 420w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.20.54-AM-820x589.png 820w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.20.54-AM.png 1192w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 426px) 100vw, 426px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Most coverage maps exaggerate coverage dramatically. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mobilecoveragemaps.com\/#minimaps\">GSMA\u2019s Mobile Coverage Maps<\/a> use a really large radius for 4G of over 20km\u2019s. In interviews with operators, the consensus for rural areas is around 8km, depending on factors such as terrain and population density.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3670\" src=\"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.08.03-AM-300x253.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"433\" height=\"365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.08.03-AM-300x253.png 300w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.08.03-AM-768x647.png 768w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.08.03-AM-1024x862.png 1024w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.08.03-AM-420x354.png 420w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.08.03-AM-820x691.png 820w, https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-9.08.03-AM.png 2014w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" \/><\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-53\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-53\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">&nbsp;<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">4G<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">3G<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">2G<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Radius<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">8km<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">10km<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">15km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-53 from cache -->\n<p>Accuracy is important for two reasons:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Broadband connectivity has massive benefits in terms of <a href=\"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/ict-evidence-portal-africa\/ict_evidence_portal_africa.php\">economic growth, productivity and employment<\/a>;<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Connectivity, especially in Africa, is still limited and many unconnected areas are on the border of commercial viability.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Combined coverage maps showing all operators infrastructure can show where investment is needed from both a public and private point of view: for government, where incentives might be needed for commercially non-viable areas and for private operators, where opportunities might exist. It\u2019s a win-win for all.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>One of the obstacles is the lack of a standard approach. Signal strength, range (or radius), download speeds are all up for debate. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has just released its attempt at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucc.co.ug\/consultation-on-the-proposed-uganda-communications-commission-framework-for-monitoring-of-coverage-obligations-of-mobile-network-operators-in-uganda\/\">standardizing submissions<\/a> from operators. In its public consultation document, the coverage standard is \u201ca minimum received signal strength of -90 dBm in at least 90% of the area as determined through prediction analysis\u201d. But the document doesn\u2019t address radius nor does it explain why -90 dBm is an appropriate signal strength. One of the few studies that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ofcom.org.uk\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0015\/72231\/mobile_handset_testing_1v01.pdf\">investigates signal strength is from Ofcom<\/a> in 2015. Ofcom found that handset sensitivity in free space &#8211; when a person is not holding the phone &#8211; were very similar to GSMA recommendations. But when Ofcom tested scenarios where the handset was held next a person\u2019s head, the performance degraded significantly (fourth column in the table below).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-54\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-54\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Band<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">GSMA recommendations (free space) in dBm<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">GSMA recommendations (Handset) in dBm<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Ofcom measurements holding phone (average) in dBm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">GSM 900<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-103<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">-95<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">-90<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">GSM 1800<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-104<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">-99<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">-95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">3G 2100<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-106<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">-101<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">-102<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">3G 900<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-104<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">-96<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">-94<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">4G 1800<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-94<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">-89<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">-87<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">4G 2600<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-94<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">-89<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">-84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">4G 800<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-93.5<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">-85<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">-84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-54 from cache -->\n<p>What\u2019s needed is a standardized, open approach to coverage maps, based on signal strength as well as range or radius. Here\u2019s our proposal &#8211; based on Ofcom\u2019s findings and operator interviews &#8211; for building a coverage map, but we desperately need to develop a consensus-based open data standard! <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-55\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-55\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Band<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Signal Strength (dBm)<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Radius (km)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">GSM 900<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-90<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">GSM 1800<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-95<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">3G 900<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-94<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">3G 2100<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-102<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">4G 800<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-84<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">4G 1800<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-87<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">4G 2600<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">-84<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-55 from cache -->\n<h5><b>Other news from around Africa <\/b><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/itweb.africa\/content\/PmxVEMKElyjvQY85?utm_source=dailyEnews_leadLink&amp;utm_medium=email\">DRC telecom tax chaos<\/a>: The government of the DRC has confiscated the passports of several executives of mobile operators Orange, Airtel, Vodacom and Africell on the basis that these companies haven\u2019t paid the new ICT taxes. The taxes are $0.0075 per minute of talk-time, $0.003 per short message text and $0.00005 per megabit of data consumed.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commsupdate.com\/articles\/2022\/08\/24\/malcel-set-to-become-malawis-next-mobile-operator\/?utm_source=CommsUpdate&amp;utm_campaign=e878265969-CommsUpdate+24+August+2022&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_0688983330-e878265969-11676563\">New mobile operator in Malawi<\/a>: Malcel is the third operator in Malawi and scheduled to launch officially in 2023.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itnewsafrica.com\/2022\/08\/south-africas-communication-regulator-names-new-acting-ceo\/\">ICASA and regulatory capture<\/a>: The CEO of ICASA leaves on the 31st of August and starts his new position at MTN on the 1st of September. No cooling off period at all. Crazy.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commsupdate.com\/articles\/2022\/08\/26\/t-mobile-partners-starlink-for-coverage-above-and-beyond\/?utm_source=CommsUpdate&amp;utm_campaign=a359f8f4c2-CommsUpdate+26+August+2022&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_0688983330-a359f8f4c2-11676563\">Starlink and universal coverage<\/a>: Starling and T-mobile have launched a new product that will give T-mobile customers access in nearly all parts of the USA on their handset even when there is no cell coverage. Is this an indicator for the rest of the world?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mobile operators are notoriously reluctant to release useful coverage information. Individual operator coverage maps are generally useless. Airtel Zambia is a classic example &#8211; as you zoom in the map abandons any hope of showing coverage and just highlights specific spots where there is (may be?) coverage: Most coverage maps exaggerate coverage dramatically. The GSMA\u2019s Mobile Coverage Maps use a really large radius for 4G of over 20km\u2019s. In interviews with operators, the consensus for rural areas is around 8km, depending on factors such as terrain and population density.\u00a0 Accuracy is important for two reasons:\u00a0 Broadband connectivity has massive benefits [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[116],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3667"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3667"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3681,"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3667\/revisions\/3681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchictsolutions.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}