A modified cost-231-hata path loss model for typical semi-urban environments in Nigeria

Abstract

Outdoor path loss propagation modeling is critical in the planning and design of the coverage area by the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). For the best prediction of GSM signal at any location within its coverage region, an accurate forecast based on critical characteristics and a mathematical model is necessary. Multiple studies on path loss propagation model prediction for GSM networks conducted at various semi-urban environments in Nigeria proclaimed that propagation path loss models may provide different results when utilized in environments other than those in which they were initially designed, that car drive-test methodology was used during the data collection, and that COST-231-Hata model provides closet prediction to the practical measure values. This paper created an appropriate path loss model based on the COST-23-Hata model and outdoor measurement at 1800 MHz frequency range for the semi-urban area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The created model was used and validated with the measured data and COST-231-Hata model at other different semi-urban environments in Nigeria. The results analysis shows that the created model performed satisfactorily given the closet path loss prediction to the practical measure path loss values at all the study locations. It also gives the lowest Square Root Means Error (SRME) and Standard Deviation (SD) in all the base stations that were tested in semi-urban environments. The newly created model would therefore be more appropriate for GSM 1800 network design and installation in semi-urban environments in Kwara State, Nigeria, as well as any other semi-urban locations in Nigeria.