Rain Attenuation Prediction for 5G Communication Links in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Millimetre-wave systems in the near future will provide mobile data rate with higher speeds than the present communication systems in Nigeria but severe signal fading caused by rain is a major disadvantage at these high frequencies. A serious challenge in 5G millimetre wave technology is the accurate estimation of rain-induced attenuation. this study presents statistics of two-years rainfall data for 1 minute rain rate and rain attenuation prediction of 5G communication links propagating at 26 GHz and 38 GHz over a path-length ranging between 1 km and 5 km. A tipping bucket rain guage type was used, and the data was logged using Madge Tech Rain101A rainfall data logger. From the analysis, a rain rate of 89 mm/hr exceeded at 0.01& of time was obtained. The ITU-R P.530-17 model was used to estimate the path attenuation. the attenuation values at 26 GHz for horizontal polarisation are 28,09 dB, 39.91 dB, 49.76 dB, 58.66 dB and 66.97 dB for 1-5 km respectively, while the interval polarisation predicted attenuation values of 24.25 dB, 34.49 dB, upcoming 5G mm-wave network designers in the study area.