Study On The Causes Of Signal Strenght Variation Of Mobile Phone Network (Case Study Of University Of Maiduguri)

ABSTRACT

GSM Network performance and service quality evaluation are essential steps for mobile operators as the income generated and customer satisfaction is directly linked to network performance and quality. Mobile Network Service Satisfaction assessment, most importantly from the consumer’s perception is necessary to evaluate the network performance and maintain service quality standards. In this project, based on the end user satisfaction stand Point, we consider the service quality offered by mobile telephone operators in Nigeria using the four (4) core GSM networks i.e. MTN, ETISALAT, AIRTEL and GLO as case study. A Drive test report is conducted within the university environment with the help of the (Network Signal Info Professional) application which would be used to make proposals on how network operators can Analysis of Mobile Networks Signal Strength for GSM Networks

WORDS AND MEANING

Signal strength (SS)

Quality of signal (QOS)

Short message services (SMS)

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

Global System for Mobiles (GSM)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWELDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

• THESIS MOTIVATION
• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• AIM OF THE STUDY
• OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
• METHODOLOGY
• SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
• RESEARCH QUESTION

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• INTRODUCTION
• AN OVERVIEW OF MOBILE PHONE SIGNAL
• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF A CELL–BASED MOBILE RADIO SYSTEM
• FACTORS AFFECTING SERVICE EFFICIENCY
• REVIEW OF THE STUDY
• REVIEW OF RELATED WORKS
• REVIEW OF GSM FREQUENCY USAGE AROUND THE WORLD
• FACTORS CAUSING SIGNAL STRENGTH VARIATION

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

• MATERIALS AND METHODS
• FINDINGS

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                          INTRODUCTION

1.1                            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Cellular telephone system have fashioned the basis of human existence. People want to reach with their family and friends and to be reached. This desire has been a driving force, motivating people to continuously seek for new and effective means of communication to one another on real time basis irrespective of distance. The development and the explosion in technology ushered in this desire with advent of first generation cellular telephone system that enables people to communicate with one another irrespective of time and place. The first generation of cellular telephone system, which was analog system, was launched in 1960s before digital communication became prevalent (Goldsmith,2005)

Cellular telephone system is one of the fastest growing and most demanding telecommunications applications, being easier and cheaper to transport than fixed telephony, which is expected to play a crucial role in the economic growth of Africa and other developing countries. (Sridhar, 2015)

Cellular phones have become an indispensible part of our everyday life.  We continuously make use of them in voice calls, sending of short message services (SMS), sending of e-mails, in e-commerce, e-banking, e-learning and watching movies. These cellular phones operate through cellular networks which are responsible for generating and distributing of radio signals that are used by cellular phones over wide geographic areas. (L. Kibora, 2008)

Since the cellular mobile phone service providers are not using the same technology and signal transmission parameters and people in the University of Maiduguri Campus are experiencing continuous call drops, poor signal reception etc. it becomes an issue  we identified imperative to study on causes of signal strength variation from deferent location with the campus.

1.2                                 THESIS MOTIVATION

The rate of which Cellular telephone system technology swept the world in recent time, has been so swift, and has been a major advancement in technology. But Nigeria being the giant of Africa in terms of market size of 200 million still does not get the best benefit out of this technology advancement which is also slowly evolving but not still able to spread its coverage to many parts of the country.

With the establishment of big time mobile providers in Africa like MTN communication, ECONET wireless (now ZAIN) GLOBACOM, 9 MOBILE. One would be tempted to think that the best services should be rendered, but we seem to be far from there.

The need then arouses to check what would have been the problem of these providers. Visualizing that subscribers face more problems when making calls from different location, thus, a reason for that should be found there has always existed claims of effect of the many cellular telephone system existing on humans, yet Nigeria in particular and African in general get even crazier about the signal strength variation.

The existence of signal strength variation of cellular telephone system has been a challenge in the telecommunication sector. Maiduguri city witness signal strength variation when making calls from different location in the city. Being one of the indigent of this city it has been a motivation to me to undertake my final year project. To make sure the signal strength is fixed all over the city not only the city but all over Nigeria and the rest of the countries.

Considering an area like University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), if properly studies could serve like a diagnosis for the entire country’s mobile network.

1.3                                 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The cellular telephone system been the best communication device nationwide. A study on causes of signal strength variation of two network service providers is taking into consideration (MTN and ETISALAT now (9 MOBILE)).There usually exist dropped calls and poor quality of services.

1.4                                 AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this project is to study the causes of signal strength variation of mobile phone network providers (MTN and 9 MOBILE) in the University of Maiduguri Campus.

1.5                              OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

At the end of this study students involved will be able:

1. Outline the causes of signal strength variation of mobile phone networks (MTN and 9 Mobile) in the University of Maiduguri Campus.
2. Outline Proper solution to the problem in the first stage

• Establishment of MTN and 9 Mobile setups and interconnection with other network

1.6                                           METHODOLOGY

1. First stage of research involve going to the MTN and ETISALAT (9 Mobile) to inquire about the interconnection (coverage) signal strength, and number of mast of both operators,
2. Second stage of this research is collection of some data from Nigerian Communication Commissions (NCC) to compare with the one collected from the first stage.

• Third stage of the research work is by downloading journals and browsing for necessary information

1.7                                 SCOPE OF STUDY

The project is focus on the cause of signal strength variation of mobile phone networkconsidering that global system for mobile communication technology is utilized by service providers in University of Maiduguri Campus. Focus is laid on MTN and 9 mobile as part of the major operators and the stems out to the other operators in terms of setup, technological consideration.

1.8                             SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

People want to communicate with their family and friends and to be communicated with. This desire makes it all the more frustrating when the network is poor or doesn‟t go through at all. There have been serious complains raised by GSM subscribers regarding poor quality of services (QoS) rendered by the GSM operators in this study area. The most annoying aspect of this is the fact that all the GSM subscribers irrespective of the operator are being affected. [1] Based on these customer complains, this study was embarked upon to examine the causes of this problem and find ways of proffering solutions. This paper therefore measures signal strength of GSM networks (MTN, AIRTEL, GLO and ETISALAT) in University Maiduguri with the view to address the complaint of the subscribers. This study would help operators to enhance coverage, improve quality and increase capacity in the days to come.

1.9                                     RESEARCH QUESTION

1. What is a mobile phone signal?
2. What causes weak signal?

• what are the measures of solving weak gsm signal?

1. How does distance and direction of tower affect signal strength?
2. How does network congestion affect signal strength?

1.10                                               LIMITATION OF STUDY

As we all know that no human effort to achieve a set of goals goes without difficulties, certain constraints were encountered in the course of carrying out this project and they are as follows:-

1. Difficulty in information collection: I found it too difficult in laying hands of useful information regarding this work and this course me to visit different libraries and internet for solution.
2. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

• Time Constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.12                                   PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work,   chapter two presents the literature review of the study,  chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.