Analysis of Telecommunication Service Mast Distribution in Minna, Niger State Using Geospatial Technique

Abstract

Since the embrace of telecommunication in Nigeria, the number of subscribers has tremendously increased and the dependence on telecommunication has grown cutting across all professions to all mans‘ day-to-day activities. This high rate of growth has led to high pressure on the telecommunication facilities, leading to poor network coverage. The increasing number of subscribers and the high dependence of everyone on telecommunication for man‘s day to day activities require that research be made into investigating ways to totally eliminate or minimize poor network coverage within the study area. Over the years researchers from different fields have looked into this problem with attempts to help solve this problem, and they most times tend to get stuck with topographic problems. This research tends to look into the analysis of telecommunication mast distribution using geospatial techniques in Minna Metropolis. The aim of this research is to analyze the spatial location (X, Y, and Z) of the telecommunication masts in Minna Metropolis in view of enhancing the performance and efficiency of telecommunication services in the metropolis. The parameters of the masts were acquired from the telecommunication company and a street guide map of the metropolis updated with the masts‘ locations was used to locate the masts and trigonometric levelling of inaccessible points was used in getting the height of the mast. The geospatial analysis used was view shed analysis incorporating buffer analysis; this was overlaid on the street guide map and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The view shed analysis was used to access the effect on topography on the network coverage while the buffer analysis was used to depict the range of network coverage. The result showed that the distribution pattern is based on population density and the concentration is on commercial centers and areas where income per head is high. It also revealed that the masts are well distributed for good 2G coverage, but poor network coverage is still seen due to topographic obstruction. The study also reveals that the facilities were poorly distributed for good 3G coverage at the fringes of the metropolis. It was discovered that topography has effect on the network coverage, as topographic features tends to obstruct the line of sight of signals from the mast. High peak produces better visibility and signal reception than on lowlands in the line of sight and view shed analysis. It was also discovered that in places were masts are well distributed and poor network is still seen, increasing the height of the mast could actually help in solving the problem. The work recommends that masts be placed at high peaks where the line of sight would not be obstructed. Also, LIDAR and UAV generated digital elevation models can also be used for the analysis in order to obtain better accuracy. The research recommends that this can be used for decision making by telecommunication companies for mast installation and it can also serve as forehand information for business men regarding where to establish businesses related to telecommunication and location.