Abstract
Mobile networks’ evolution is strictly related to connected cars evolution, making in-car propagation modeling and analysis key enablers in the forthcoming telecommunication competition scenario. The recent availability of mobile device power measurements enriched by GPS position, the so-called 3GPP minimization of drive test (MDT) feature, nowadays, empowers new approaches to propagation studies targeting mobile service and quality improvements. The novelty of the research presented in this article is the use of a huge quantity of MDT geolocated radio measurements in a connected state (more than 370 million during the three-day MDT campaign) along 187 km of Italian A22 Motorway, part of the planned Munich-Bologna EU cross-border corridors for connected and automated mobility (CAM). In particular, MDT measurements of LTE received signal received power (RSRP) are compared between rain and dry road situations, showing how wet environments reshape electromagnetic propagation, even for LTE frequency bands (below 3 GHz) that have line-of-sight propagation marginally influenced by rain. Explanations of measured effects and simulations are presented. The rain effect on cellular propagation should be carefully considered in the perspective of connected car evolution, specifically considering new worldwide available 5G bands, more affected by rain situations, and autonomous driving scenarios.
Highlights
In this article a research about rain influence on LTE (The 4G Mobile Broadband Standard) frequencies propagation is presented
The time interval under investigation includes three consecutive days, from the 2nd to the 4th of July 2019. This period was notably interesting from a meteorological point of view because of cycles of rainy and dry moments in Trentino Alto Adige, so creating useful experimental environment to detect if, and how, received signal received power (RSRP) in-car measurements are influenced by rain, despite propagation of the 4G LTE frequencies results very weakly affected by air humidity level as reported by the ITU recommendations [7,8,9,10]
The minimization of drive test (MDT) features, specified in [Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio measurement collection for Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) – overall description [23] for LTE, enable the user equipment (UE), i.e. the smartphone to periodically send a large set of measurements from Layer 2 – Medium Access Control (MAC), specified in [24], – and Layer 3 – Radio Resource Control (RRC), specified in [25]
Summary
In this article a research about rain influence on LTE (The 4G Mobile Broadband Standard) frequencies propagation is presented. The specific A22 segment under investigation has a length of 187 km, starting from Brenner border between Italy and Austria, crossing Nord to South all the Trentino Alto Adige Italian region It is a typical mountain motorway, crossing the Alps up to the highest Brenner point (1375 m a.s.l). The time interval under investigation includes three consecutive days, from the 2nd to the 4th of July 2019 This period was notably interesting from a meteorological point of view (see examples in Fig. 1 and Fig. 7) because of cycles of rainy and dry moments in Trentino Alto Adige, so creating useful experimental environment to detect if, and how, RSRP in-car measurements are influenced by rain, despite propagation of the 4G LTE frequencies (below 3 GHz) results very weakly affected by air humidity level as reported by the ITU recommendations [7,8,9,10].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
