See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/265206384

Radio frequency optimization of mobile networks in abeokuta, Nigeria for

improved quality of service

Article · August 2014

CITATIONS READS

14 2,579

4 authors, including:

Segun I. Popoola Gordian Ayonote

Manchester Metropolitan University University of Lagos
93 PUBLICATIONS   342 CITATIONS    1 PUBLICATION   14 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

IoT-enabled Smart & Connected Communities View project

Journal Paper View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Segun I. Popoola on 01 September 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

RADIO FREQUENCY OPTIMIZATION OF MOBILE NETWORKS IN

ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA FOR IMPROVED QUALITY OF SERVICE

Olasunkanmi F. Oseni1, Segun I. Popoola2, Henry Enumah3, Ayonote Gordian4

1
Lecturer, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B
4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
2
B.Tech, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B
4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
3
Project Manager, Wireless Communications, Alcatel-Lucent, Nigeria
4
Technical Manager, Spectrum Communications Services Ltd, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract
Radio Frequency Optimization is an important process in verifying and monitoring the performance of any GSM radio network
already deployed in an area. It is a periodic activity that is done to maintain a good radio quality of service and enhance end
users’ perception. This research work aimed at improving the Quality of Service (QoS) of the GSM radio network deployed within
Abeokuta City, Nigeria in order to retain existing subscribers and attract new ones while continually expanding the network. A
drive test was carried out in dedicated mode with the goal of collecting measurement data as a function of location and to identify
the eventual black spots in the GSM radio network. The data collected were analysed in post-processing software tool (MapInfo
Professional) to identify the causes of problems and determine how these problems can be solved effectively and efficiently. Poor
network coverage and degradation in QoS were encountered in some parts of the city. This performance was due to the land
topology and the presence of physical obstructions in the propagation environment. The Hand-Over (HO) failures were mainly
due to Base Station Controller (BSC) synchronization issue. Therefore, additional Base Stations were planned to be deployed in
those areas; and the BSC synchronization issue was resolved. This will resolve frequent network complaints that lead to
customers’ dissatisfaction and boost the revenue of the mobile network provider.

Keywords: Radio Network Optimization, QoS, Speech Quality Index, Drive Test
--------------------------------------------------------------------***----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. INTRODUCTION Quality of Service (QoS) of mobile cellular networks which

was defined by ITU-T Rec E.800 [3] as “the collective
The Nigerian telecommunications industry is rapidly effect of service performance that determine the degree of
growing and many operators and their operations put forth satisfaction of a user of the service” has many performance
different services, but in the diverse services provided most attributes or metrics which have continue to give
of the subscribers do not receive satisfaction due to the poor telecommunication experts and operators lot of keen
nature of services available on these networks. Competition considerations for continual optimality [4]. QoS
in the industry is a likely tool that would indirectly improve measurements are essential for quality assurance and
services rendered, but this is not yet the case in Nigeria benchmarking though they are carried out at high effort and
since competition in the telecommunications industry is costs [5].
fairly new and may be described as being inefficient. Hence,
there has been a persistent outcry in the media and series of
1.1 Radio Network Optimization
complaints from the National Assembly on the poor
performance of mobile telecommunication networks in Optimization involves monitoring, verifying and improving
Nigeria [1]. the performance of the radio network. The radio network
must be continuously monitored and corrected. The
With the rapid growth of the wireless industry, GSM optimization process should be on-going to increase the
(Global System for Mobile communications) networks are efficiency of the network leading to revenue generation
rolling out and expanding at a high rate. The industry is also from the network [6]. To cater for the increasing
becoming intensely competitive. In this environment, high subscribers‟ demand, RF optimization teams must ensure
quality of service is a competitive advantage for a service minimum blocking/congestion over air interface in order to
provider. A lot of effort is made by a network operator to provide better QoS to guarantee significant network
monitor the networks and maintain current, comprehensive performance [7].
and accurate status of its quality. This status, together with
new traffic demand data is used by the operators to improve GSM network performance and QoS evaluation are the most
their network and adjust its operation [2]. important steps for the mobile operators as the revenue and
customer satisfaction is directly related to network
performance and quality. Radio frequency Network
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 08 | Aug-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 174
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

Optimization (RNO) teams play a very significant and vital Ugwoke et al (2014) carried out an investigation on QoS
role in optimizing an operational network to meet the ever- status in Nigeria while leveraging software engineering
increasing demands from the end users [8]. concepts to develop an optimization drive test plant for
improving QoS thresholds by service providers [14]. The
Cellular network operators must periodically optimize their research work in [15] analysed QoS and identified the areas
networks to accommodate traffic growth and performance on the GSM network where congestion occurred, the causes
degradation. Optimization action after service rollout is to of congestion on GSM network and presented a congestion
correct the expected errors in network planning and the comparative analysis on each of the GSM networks in
benefits like improved network capacity, enhanced coverage Nigeria using MTN, CELTEL (Formerly ECONET),
and quality of service [9]. GLOBACOM, and MTEL.

1.2 Drive Test Investigation Approach Shoewu et al (2011) in [16] presented a report on the quality
of service of network optimization and evaluation of Key
Drive tests are the most common measurement tool used by Performance Indices provided by GSM operators
radio network operators to probe the quality status and solve considering the ability to establish and maintain call
network problems. Drive Testing is a method of measuring connections, call retention, handover, inter and intra
and assessing the coverage, capacity and Quality of Service network call set-up. The work consequently developed a
(QoS) of a mobile radio network [2]. It is conducted for model of service quality and a set of dimensions for
checking the coverage criteria of the cell site with the RF comparative evaluation which was opined to direct
drive test tool. The data collected by drive test tool in form regulators and service providers.
of log files are assessed to evaluate the various RF
parameters of the network. The technique consists of using a In this research work, a drive test was carried out in
motor vehicle containing mobile radio network air interface dedicated mode with the goal of collecting measurement
measurement equipment that can detect and record a wide data as a function of location and to identify the eventual
variety of the physical and virtual parameters of mobile black spots in the GSM radio network deployed in
cellular service in a given geographical area [10]. Abeokuta. The data collected were analysed in post-
processing software tools to identify the causes of problems
Field measurement and network assessment are usually done and determine how these problems can be solved effectively
through drive testing over the coverage area of respective and efficiently. This will thereby improve the radio QOS in
base stations under observation. The data set collected can Abeokuta. This is a periodic activity aiming to maintain a
include information such as [11]: signal intensity; signal good radio quality of service and end users perception. The
quality; interference; dropped calls; blocked calls; call goals are to improve quality of service, retain existing
statistics; service level statistics; Quality of Service (QoS) subscribers and attract new ones while continually
information; handover information; neighbouring cell expanding the network.
information and; GPS location co-ordinates.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
1.3 Review of Related Works
2.1 Geographic Description of the Coverage Area
Popoola et al (2009) evaluated the network performance and
quality of service (QoS) of GSM cellular system in Nigeria Abeokuta is situated at 7°9′39″N Latitude, 3°20′54″E
using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The result of the Longitude and 67 metres elevation above the sea level. It is
study shows that the QoS of GSM system in the country is the largest city and capital of Ogun State in South-Western
unreliable [12]. Agajo et al (2012) optimized GSM network region of Nigeria. It is situated on the east bank of the Ogun
performance by developing a pilot study. Simulations were River, near a group of rocky outcrops in a wooded savannah
carried out to assess various parameters and [17]. As of 2005, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a
recommendations were made on how to improve on the population of 593,140. Figure 1 shows the propagation
efficiency of the wireless communication network [9]. environment of the mobile radio network investigated.

An evaluation and optimization of Quality of Service (QoS)

of Mobile Cellular Networks in Nigeria was carried out in
[13] using drive test. With this, a holistic Network
Optimization model using an Adaptive Network-Based
Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) algorithm was developed.
Idigo et al in [1] investigated and analysed the quality of
service offered by Visafone mobile cellular network in
Nigeria using some Network Key Performance Indicators
(KPI) namely: Call Setup Success Ratio (CSSR), Call Drop
Ratio (CDR) and Traffic Channel (TCH) Congestion Ratio
measurements while showing some variations in their
results.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 08 | Aug-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 175
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

The drive test equipment set-up consists of a laptop,

Transmission Evaluation and Monitoring System (TEMS)
investigation software (TEMS 9.0), power supply unit,
TEMS-enabled test mobile station (Sony Ericsson K800i)
with data cable and Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub, Global
Positioning System (GPS) and a vehicle. After the base
stations data were collected, the drive test was conducted.
Short calls and long calls were generated with the test
mobile station. The short calls were made to test the
accessibility and mobility of the network; while the long
calls were made to test the ability of the network to retain
and sustain calls set up.

Drive Tests (DT) were conducted in some selected areas.

Sites and cells were clearly identified by their identification
codes called the Site ID and Cell ID. The detail Site/Cell
Fig 1: Pictorial View of the Coverage Area data configuration is usually called the Cell-Refs. The test
involved driving at very low speed along the path of interest,
2.2 Drive Test Survey Routes while at the same time placing and monitoring of calls by
the Ericsson TEMS phones integrated with Global
Drive test routes were planned to include all the roads which Positioning system (GPS) for location updates.
are covered by different sectors of the sites under study.
Also, the main streets around the base stations were The data obtained during the drive test include: received
included. The test routes reached the over-lapping areas of signal strength; neighbouring cell information; GSM radio
surrounding neighbour cells. This ensures the proper parameters; frequency band; best server list; signal quality
verification of the actual coverage area of the sites and the and network events. Interference on Broadcast Control
handover functions. Some of the major roads covered are: Channel (BCCH) and hopping frequencies were monitored.
M. K. O. Abiola Way; Olabisi Onabanjo Way; Shokenu There were close observations on whether the nearest sector
Way; Presidential Bouleva Road; Abeokuta-Imeko Road; is serving or not. Reasons for call set-up failures were
Shagamu-Abeokuta Road and Kobape Road. equally noted during the drive test. The post-processing data
analysis was carried out with MapInfo Professional
software.

3. RESULTS
The flexibility of MapInfo Professional software in post-
processing of raw data and the different ways of result
presentation offer it a very indispensable tool to network
optimization Engineers. The results obtained in terms of
received signal level, received signal quality and event
handover failure rate were differentiated by colours.

3.1 Analysis of Radio Network Coverage

The radio network coverage data obtained from GSM 900
MHz and Digital Cellular System (DCS) 1800 MHz
Fig 2: Road Map of the Investigated Area networks deployed within the city were analysed. This
analysis was based on the received signal level, frequency
2.3 Drive Test Measurement Collection band distribution, best server plan and network coverage
statistics.
A drive test was carried out in dedicated mode to identify
the eventual black spots (radio coverage „holes‟) present
Figure 3 shows the coverage plot of the received signal level
within Abeokuta City, Nigeria. The logs recorded during the
obtainable on the networks at different mobile user
drive test were analysed and recommendations were made to
locations. The analysis of this result revealed that
improve the radio Quality of Service (QoS) in the city. The
approximately 205,000 measurement points were collected
test investigated what the mobile users experience on the
during the drive test. The received signal strength of a larger
radio network in the area. This was done by collecting data
proportion of the measurement points (138,869 points) falls
related to the radio network itself, services running on the
within the range of -85 to -71 dBm. Higher signal level
network, radio frequency scanner information and
values of -71 to 0 dBm were received at 42,017 mobile
geographical positioning data to enable mobile station
station locations. The lowest received signal level range of -
location logging.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 08 | Aug-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 176
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

110 to -95 dBm was experienced at 572 measurement points

within the coverage area.

Fig 5: Coverage Plot of Best Server Plan

Fig 3: Coverage Plot of Received Signal Level The GSM radio network coverage statistics are presented in
Figure 6. This shows the percentage contribution of different
Figure 4 presents the coverage plot of frequency band received signal level ranges to the radio network coverage in
distribution of the radio networks deployed within the city the Abeokuta City.
under study. The two frequency band investigated were
GSM 900 MHz and DCS 1800 MHz. The deployed GSM
900 MHz radio network in the city accounted for 7,341
measurement points; while 193,604 measurement points
were the contribution of the DCS 1800 MHz radio network
technology.

Fig 6: GSM Radio Network Coverage Statistics

Table 1 gives the percentage contribution of the network

coverage of each of the radio technologies (GSM 900 MHz
and DCS 1800 MHz) deployed in the city.

Table 1: Coverage Statistics by Frequency Band

Fig 4: Coverage Plot of Frequency Band Distribution Frequency Band Contribution (%)
GSM 900 MHz 3.65
Figure 5 shows the coverage plot of best server plan of the DCS 1800 MHz 96.35
radio networks investigated. The plot presents the area or
locations covered by each cell of the Base Transceiver 3.2 Analysis of Received Signal Quality
Stations (BTSs) considered for optimization. The cells were
identified by their unique Cell Identity (CI). The quality of the radio signal transmitted by the networks
was examined. This was achieved by the measure of the
received signal quality obtained by TEMS investigation
software at different locations as the mobile station moves

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 08 | Aug-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 177
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

along the test routes. The signal quality of the service

offered was assessed by the following radio parameters: 90.00%
received signal quality and Speech Quality Index (SQI). 80.00%
0
Figure 7 and Figure 8 show the coverage plots of received 70.00%
1
radio signal and Speech Quality Index (SQI) respectively. 60.00%
2
50.00%
3
40.00% 81.19%
4
30.00%
2.00% 2.60% 5
20.00% 3.72% 1.34%
2.12% 4.26% 6
10.00% 2.77%
7
0.00%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fig 9: Statistics of Received Signal Quality

Table 2 presents the statistics of percentage contribution of

each range of the Signal Quality Index (SQI) with the
corresponding remarks.

Table 2: Statistics of Speech Quality Index (SQI)

Speech Quality Index Remark Contribution
Fig 7: Quality Plot of Received Radio Signal (SQI) (%)
Above 23 Excellent 87.21
13 to 23 Good 7.69
6 to 13 Fair 2.07
Below 6 Bad 3.03

3.3 Analysis of GSM Network Event

The network events considered in this study are Dropped
Calls and the Hand Over (HO) reported during the drive test.
There were no dropped calls recorded. Figure 10 shows that
there occurred thirty-eight (38) hand over failures in the
process.

Fig 8: Quality Plot of Received Speech Quality (SQI)

Figure 9 shows the statistics of percentage contribution of

each of the signal quality levels ranging from 0 to 7.

Fig 10: Event Plot of Handover (HO) Failures

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 08 | Aug-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 178
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

4. DISCUSSIONS
The Mobile Station (MS) sensitivity is a component of link
budget. This factor is dependent upon the receiver noise
figure and minimum level of the Output Signal-to-Noise
ratio needed. The recommendation for the MS sensitivity in
GSM 900 and DCS 1800 are -102 dBm and -100 dBm
respectively [6]. The average received signal level
experienced in the city is highly satisfactory; about 98.45%
of the total coverage area investigated has received signal
level below -91 dBm.

Figure 11 shows significant mobile service degradation

experienced along Oke Mosan, Kobape and Shagamu-
Abeokuta roads. Majority of the 572 measurement points
with the lowest received signal level range (-110 to -95
dBm) were obtained along these routes. The GSM serving
and neighbouring cells list in Figure 12 shows that all
available cells are of the received signal level values
between -108 dBm and -93 dBm. Figure 13 displays the
GSM radio parameters with poor signal reception at the
mobile users end along those routes. With these results, Fig 13: GSM Radio Parameters of Poor Coverage Area
these area experienced severe call drop rate, poor call
success rate, event handover failures, and poor traffic
streams.

Fig 14: Geographic Information of Poor Coverage Area

The poor coverage encountered along those routes with the

geographic information presented in Figure 14 was
discovered to be due to the topology of the area as shown in
Fig 11: Drive Test Snap Shot of Poor Coverage Area Figure 15.

Fig 12: Received Signal Level of Poor Coverage Area Fig 15: Ariel View of the Poor Coverage Area

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 08 | Aug-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 179
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

5. CONCLUSIONS [9]. James Agajo, A. L. Theophilus and V. E. Idigo,

“Optimization of Network Performance in Wireless
This study investigated the network performance and the Communication Networks”, The Pacific Journal of Science
quality of service delivered by the radio networks of GSM and Technology, Volume 13, No. 1, pp. 334-350, May 2012
900 and DCS 1800 deployed in Abeokuta city. The findings (Spring).
of this research work showed that both radio network [10]. Richa Budhiraja and Jitendra Singh Jadon, “Study and
technologies investigated should be optimized for better Implementation of Drive Test for Development of GSM
quality of service delivery in some parts of the city. The Network”, International Journal of Engineering Trends and
poor radio coverage and degradation in quality of service Technology (IJETT), Volume 4, Issue 10, pp. 4352-4357,
identified in the affected areas of the city were traced to the October 2013.
land topology and the presence of physical obstructions [11]. Wikipedia (2014), “Drive Testing”,
present in the propagation environment. Also, poor quality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive_testing.
samples collected over B5563_2 were due to poor coverage [12]. J. J. Popoola , I. O. Megbowon, V. S. A. Adeloye,
in the area. “Performance Evaluation and Improvement on Quality of
Service of Global System for Mobile Communications in
We therefore recommend that a base station should be Nigeria”, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 91-106, 2009.
planned by the Radio Network Planning (RNP) team of the [13]. Alexander .N Ndife et al, “Evaluation and
network provider and vendor to enhance radio coverage in Optimization of Quality of Service (QoS) of Mobile Cellular
the affected area. The planned site will also improve the Networks in Nigeria”, International Journal of Information
Quality of Service (QoS) offered by the radio networks. and Communication Technology Research, Volume 3 No. 9,
The Hand-Over (HO) failures were mainly due to Base Sep-Oct 2013.
Station Controller (BSC) Synchronization issue observed. [14]. Ugwoke F.N, et al, “Using Software Engineering
This should be resolved appropriately and timely. If the Approach in Mitigating QoS Challenges in Mobile
optimization is successfully performed, the QoS, reliability Communication Networks in Nigeria”, Computing,
and availability of RF Coverage area will be highly Information Systems, Development Informatics & Allied
improved resulting in more customers and more profits to Research Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1, March, 2014
the mobile telecom service providers. [15]. B.M. Kuboye, B.K. Alese, and O. Fajuyigbe,
“Congestion Analysis on the Nigerian Global System for
REFERENCES Mobile Communications (GSM) Network”, The Pacific
[1]. V. E. Idigo, A. C. O. Azubogu, C. O. Ohaneme and K. Journal of Science and Technology, Volume 10, No. 1, May
A. Akpado, “Real-Time Assessments of QoS of Mobile 2009 (Spring).
Cellular Networks in Nigeria”, International Journal of [16]. Shoewu, O. and Edeko, F.O, “Outgoing call quality
Engineering Inventions, Volume 1, Issue 6, pp. 64-68, evaluation of GSM network services in Epe, Lagos State”,
October, 2012. American Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research,
[2]. Amaldi, A. Capone, and F. Malucelli, “Radio planning AJSIR, 2(3) Pp. 409-417, 2011.
and coverage optimization of 3G cellular networks”, Journal [17]. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Abeokuta".
of Wireless Networks, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 435–447, August Encyclopædia Britannica 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge
2008. University Press. pp. 42–43.
[3]. ITU-T E.800, “Definitions of terms related to quality of
service”, ITU-T Recommendations, E.800 09/2008.
[4]. Patrick O. Olabisi, “Trend Analysis of Key Cellular
Network Quality Performance Metrics”, International
Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology,
3(7), pp. 916-925, July, 2014.
[5]. Kuhn M. and Prof. Wittneben, “Efficient Quality of
Service Measurements in Wireless Mobile Networks,”
Communication Technology Laboratory,
http://www.nari.ee.ethz.ch/wireless/research/projects/tmob.h
tml
[6]. Ajay R. Mishra, "Fundamentals of Cellular Network
Planning and Optimization 2G/2.5G/3G…Evolution to 4G",
John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2004.
[7]. ITU-T recommendation G.1000, Communication
quality of Service: A framework and definition, 2001.
[8]. Bilal Haider, M. Zafrullah and M. K. Islam, “Radio
Frequency Optimization & QoS Evaluation in Operational
GSM Network”, Proceedings of the World Congress on
Engineering and Computer Science 2009 Vol I WCECS
2009, San Francisco, USA October 20-22, 2009.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 08 | Aug-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 180

View publication stats