Geographical Analysis of Mobile Network Reception Quality -Signal Strength : A Case Study of Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana

Abstract

Cost of mobile phone communication service in Ghana is seen by many subscribers to be too high when compared to other countries, developed and developing. Despite the cost, mobile usage penetration in Ghana has reached 75%. Perhaps the agonizing part is not how much one pays for the service, rather, the paying for unattained service. In many locations, voice calls are not audible while others fall into dead zones. The argument is that mobile phone service providers need to educate their customers on the signal strength of the subscriber’s location before customers subscribe for the service. This study presents the spatial pattern of mobile network reception quality in the AMA. The objective was to identify gaps in coverage using signal strength of two mobile network providers, MTN and TIGO. The study found that MTN had 184 masts transmitting signals within AMA. However there is a considerable concentration of them within the central AMA, accounting for the strong signal strength in areas around Accra Central, Accra Newtown, Kaneshie, Kotobabi, and Adabraka. Major localities of signal gaps for MTN are found around Little Legon, Burma Camp and Mpoase. MTN has three times more subscribers than TIGO. TIGO had 50 masts which are unevenly distributed and concentrated in areas around Darkuman, Kokompe, and Abeka. Generally, TIGO’s signal showed stronger from field test, but it has fewer subscribers. TIGO has major gaps in areas around Burma Camp, parts of Dansoman, Chorkor, Korle Gonnor, Little Legon, East Legon towards Adjiringanor, Mpoase and Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Signal Strength, Multi-criteria decision making, Accra Metropolitan Area

DOI: 10.7176/CER/13-1-05

Publication date: January 31^st 2021