Measurements-Based Performance Analysis of a 4G LTE Network in and around Shopping Malls and Campus Environments in Lagos Nigeria

Abstract

Performance analysis of a Fourth Generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in and around Shopping Malls and Campus environments in Lagos is presented. Propagation measurements of key performance indicators (KPIs) were observed at an operating frequency of 1876.6 MHz, using Huawei Technologies drive test (DT) equipment. The test area covers the University of Lagos (BS 1), Ikorodu (BS 2) and Oniru (BS 3), all located in Lagos, Nigeria. Five key performance parameters consisting of signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) downlink (DL) throughput, and packet component carrier (PCC) physical (PHY) downlink (DL) throughput, were measured at a near constant mobile antenna height of 1.5m. Measurements campaign span a transmitter to receiver distance of 1km at an interval of 0.1km, starting from a reference distance of 0.1km from the tested base stations (eNodeBs). Test results were extracted using MapInfo tool and analyzed in MATLAB. In order to examine the goodness of fit, a ninth order degree polynomial was fitted to measured data. Generally, results indicate a maximum RSRP of 2.49dBm in BS 3, RSRQ of 0.37dBm in BS 1, RSSI of 2.30dBm in BS 1, PDCP Throughput of 1867.41bps in BS 3, PCC PHY Throughput of 2256.35 bps in BS 3, and SINR of 2.15dB in BS 2. These results compare favorably with the specific KPIs provided by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC). Overall, the fitted models could be very useful for the characterization of radio channels in similar environments.