Mobile Telecommunication Networks Research Articles

Data-Science-Informed Operation, Maintenance Practices Reduce Emissions

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper URTeC 3866061, “Reducing Methane Emissions: Implementing Data-Science-Informed Operation and Maintenance Work Practices Using Continuous Monitoring Technology,” by Kathleen Jenkins, Carol A. Brereton, and Alex MacGregor, Qube Technologies, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ Diverse methods are used by oil and gas operators for methane leak detection and repair (LDAR). Deploying continuous monitoring (CM) point-sensor technologies to an oil and gas facility allows operators to implement novel operation and maintenance work practices to respond efficiently to methane emissions. The authors examine how data-science-driven work practices can result in substantial reduction in methane emissions compared with other LDAR methods. CM Technology CM point sensors track changes in parts per million of methane in the air. When several fixed sensors are deployed at a site, a large area can be surveilled. Using proprietary algorithms based on a plume-dispersion model, the volume and site rate of the methane emission are calculated. The probable location of the emission is estimated and, together with the volume, is shown on a Web-based dashboard that displays the changes in site rate through time. Alerts generated by the CM system allow the operator to respond to leaks more quickly than when waiting for data from an intermittent inspection to provide emission data. CM was deployed by a Permian Basin operator with a desire to operate cleanly, with transparency. The devices were installed with the operator beginning in March 2022 and continue to be active at the time of writing. Alerts generated by the system are delivered to operations personnel, including control-room operators, and investigated by field operators. When the source is identified, repairs are scheduled or completed on the spot and recorded for review. The operator has expanded the deployments throughout the field and uses the data to identify and repair leaks. Theory and Methods The CM devices were deployed around the fence line at several production facilities in the Permian Basin. The optimal number and placement of sensors was determined by analyzing publicly available wind data and sources of emissions at the facility. The CM devices have an inlet port that allows the ambient air to enter the device and flow across a metal oxide sensor. Metal oxide sensors measure the change in conductivity as the air flows across them as a result of the methane adhering to the metal. The change in conductivity, directly correlated with the parts per million of methane in the air, is recorded. Also measured are temperature and wind data, read by temperature sensors and anemometers on each device. This data is sent through a mobile telecommunications network to cloud-based servers that apply an emission-estimation model based on a plume dispersion and a localization algorithm to the data. Cloud services facilitate the transfer of information from devices to Web-based software. Each methane sensor is calibrated in the laboratory before installation by exposing it to known levels of methane. In this process, the temperature and humidity are systematically varied while the methane concentrations are changed and the reported conductivity is recorded. The resulting coefficients of conductivity are stored with the serial number of the device and sent to the device through the mobile network when it is deployed in the field.

Internal core Competencies and Competitive Advantage in Telecommu-nication Industry. A case of Mobile Telecommunication Network Rwanda

In the current demanding economic landscape, organizations must consistently reassess and innovate to stay pertinent in their operational sphere, particularly in highly competitive environments. This study aimed to investigate the influence of internal core competencies on organizational competitive advantage, focusing specifically on MTN Rwanda. Guided by three specific objectives, this research assessed the influence of management qualifications, the perception of innovation, and intellectual capital on the organizational competitive advantage of MTN Rwanda PLC. The study employed a descriptive and correlational research design, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. Key findings indicated that management capabilities, including education level, experience, training, leadership, and decision-making skills, significantly influence MTN Rwanda’s competitive advantage, with means ranging from 3.17 to 3.85 and standard deviations from 0.54 to 0.78. Attitudes towards risk-taking, willingness to adopt new technologies, creativity, problem-solving skills, culture of innovation, and implementation of innovative ideas are crucial factors in MTN Rwanda’s competitive advantage, with mean scores ranging from 4.45 to 4.48 and low standard deviations of 0.70 to 0.71. Intellectual capital, encompassing human, structural, and relational capital, plays a key role in MTN Rwanda’s competitive advantage, with means ranging from 4.55 to 4.58 and standard deviations from 0.63 to 0.64. An ANOVA test revealed a significant difference in competitive advantage between groups (F(0.12) = 474.605, p = .000). Additionally, strong positive correlations were found between management capabilities and competitive advantage (rs = .752, p = .000), innovation capacity and competitive advantage (rs = .904, p = .000), and intellectual capital and competitive advantage (rs = .876, p = .000). The findings emphasize the critical role of internal core competencies in driving competitive advantage. Management capabilities, a proactive approach to risk-taking, innovation, and leveraging intellectual capital are pivotal in shaping MTN Rwanda’s competitive position in the telecommunication industry. Internal core competencies, including management capabilities, innovation, and intellectual capital, significantly influence MTN Rwanda’s competitive advantage. It is recommended that the company prioritize education, training, leadership, risk-taking, and technology adoption while fostering a culture of innovation and leveraging intellectual capital.

A decision support scheme for solving the mobile coverage gap in rural areas in developing countries – Demonstrated with a case in Indonesia

As a primary means of communication, the role of mobile telecommunications networks is important for a developing country's economic and social development. However, especially rural areas in low-income countries still lack mobile coverage. In the academic literature, only segmented solution strategies for this mobile coverage problem in rural areas are proposed. These are either technological, regulatory, or organizational solutions, whereas solving the mobile coverage gap requires an integrated approach to develop arrangements for mobile network rollout in rural areas. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the causes of the lack of mobile coverage, the available solutions, and how they can be combined. Based on this overview, the paper proposes a decision support scheme for selecting a suitable arrangement for solving the mobile coverage gap. In this decision support scheme, the technical, organizational, and regulatory solutions are combined to develop a set of arrangements that match the local key causes of the lack of mobile coverage and that fit with the local context. In the last phase of the decision support scheme, the relevant stakeholders are involved in selecting the most suitable arrangement. We demonstrate the decision support scheme by applying it to the case of an unserved rural village in Indonesia, Unipa on the island of Papua, to show how it can guide a developing country to initiate the process of developing a solution for mobile coverage problems in rural areas.

The Use of Licensing to Promote Competition among Telecom Operators and the Growth of Mobile Telecommunication Networks in Nigeria, 2011-2022

Many practitioners and investors have praised the use of licensing to enhance competition in the telecom sector due to its real effects on the Nigerian economy. However, since 2011, subscribers in the industry have had a mixed experience with the license issue due to problems with telecom companies' exploitative tendencies and antics, which make it difficult for customers to acquire reliable and reasonably priced telecoms services. With a focus on the institutional and legal safeguards put in place by the government to ensure that the operators abide by the licensing and regulation powers granted to them by the law, the study essentially examines how licensing affects competition among telecom operators and the expansion of mobile telecom networks in Nigeria. The paper's methodology adopted the documentary approach, and the data were ostensibly gathered from secondary sources and examined in terms of substance. Neo-liberal theory of the state provided a sufficient theoretical foundation for the examination of the study. The paper's findings demonstrate that while the expansion of Nigeria's mobile telecom networks is aided by the use of licensing to promote competition among telecom operators, consumers' access to affordable and high-quality telecommunications services is restricted by the exploitative tendencies and antics of telecom companies. The paper's suggestions were based on these findings, and one of them was that Telecommunications service tariffs must always be cost-oriented and reflect the actual costs borne by operators to provide the services in question.

Effects of Strategic Planning and Innovation on Performance of Mobile Telecommunication Firms in Ghana

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of strategic planning and constant innovation strategies on the performance of firms in the telecommunication industry. The study used a quantitative method and cross-sectional survey design with a purposive sampling technique to collect data from the offices of Mobile Telecommunication Networks in Ghana (MTN). The findings indicate strategic planning practices of the telecommunication industry had a significant positive relationship with performance. However, the innovation practices were found to have no significant influence on performance. The study findings reveal that the players in the MTN industry who focus more on strategic planning initiatives receive high performance. The outcome of the study findings indicates the need for the telecommunication industry to focus more attention on strategic planning to enhance performance. The paper provides the pathways to policy makers in the telecommunication industry to communicate effectively with their staff about strategic and innovation decisions to ensure efficiency in performance.

Statistical analysis of call setup success rate for 4 g networks in yenagoa-southern Nigeria

This work attempts to effectively compare Call Setup Success Rate CSSR against industry benchmarks and competitor networks to identify areas for improvement and sets performance targets. Four mobile telecommunication networks operational in Yenagoa – Southern Nigeria were considered. Results obtained shows that MTN and Airtel performed above the regulator’s benchmark of 98% in all cases, while Globacom and 9moblie had instances where their performance fell below the benchmark. The maximum values obtained within the period in view was 99.79% and it was gotten from 9mobile while the minimum value obtained was 94.07% and it was from Globacom. In the years 2017, 2019 and 2020 all the networks had values exceeding the NCC’s benchmark, this affirms that it is possible for the networks to perform optimally if adequate measures are put in place for improved QoS.

Customers Reactions on Service Delivery by Major Telecommunications Operators in Nigerian Newspapers

Data from the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) stated that MTN lost a record of 667,245 Internet subscribers in one month in 2019.Figure shows that MTN’s total Internet subscribers stood at 52.2 million in July 2019 while the number dropped to 51.6 million in August 2019. It was observed that customers’ reactions bordered on issues ranging from unsolicited calls and short message services (SMS), unsubstantiated deductions of call credit units, poor service connection, network failure, cumbersome SIM swap process among others. This paper, thus, examines two Nigerian national dailies-The Punch and The Nation newspapers coverage of customers’ reaction to mobile telecommunication network services from 2015 to 2017. Using the content analysis research method, the study is anchored on the Social Exchange theory. The findings revealed a significant pattern of more negative than positive reactions by subscribers within the years under study. The negative complaints were high in 2015, dropped significantly in 2016, and rose again in 2017. On this, MTN recorded 15 (or 32%); Airtel 13 (or 28%), Glo10 (or 21%), while Etisalat (now 9Mobile) was 9 (or 19%), as against Etisalat (9 Mobile), 9 (or 19%), Glo 4 (or 8%) and Airtel 3 (or 6%) positive reactions by the customers during the period. Study thus recommends that Nigerian newspapers should once in a while carryout a survey on quality of service delivery by GSM operators and use such stories on the front page of their respective newspapers.

The role of RS and GIS in Mobile Telecommunication Network Planning and Simulation

The role of RS and GIS in Mobile Telecommunication Network Planning and Simulation

Advanced Air Mobility and Evolution of Mobile Networks

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is a promising field of services based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which aims to provide people and cargo transportation services in underserved areas. The recent advancements in the fields of aviation and mobile telecommunication networks have opened up multiple opportunities for the development of disruptive AAM applications. This paper presents the overview and identifies the major requirements of emerging AAM use cases to confront them with the features provided by the 5G System (5GS), which is commonly considered the key enabler in providing commercial AAM services. The major benefits, gaps, and issues regarding using 5GS to serve AAM operations are identified and discussed. Finally, the future perspectives for AAM services are outlined with a focus on the potential benefit that can be provided as the mobile network evolves towards 6G.

A study on mobile telecommunication systems using OpenAirInterface platform

Significant progress has been made in deploying 5G mobile networks in the last few years, providing rapid connectivity and low-latency communications. This study thoroughly analyzes the deployment of 5G networks utilizing the Open Air Interface (OAI), a free and open-source wireless communication technology. The survey gives a general overview of OAI's various fields and applications. It then looks at numerous uses and industries where OAI-based networks for 5G have been effectively implemented. The paper includes in-depth discussions of OAI's technical features and information on how it supports creating software-defined radio (SDR) platforms for 5G networks. It emphasizes OAI's versatility and flexibility, allowing researchers and developers to test various network setups and protocols. The survey's results show how OAI is becoming increasingly crucial to designing and rolling out 5G networks in various sectors. Researchers and professionals can investigate fresh applications and services that make the most of 5G technology by utilizing the capabilities of OAI. The taxonomy is designed and developed by categorizing the existing proposed solutions using OAI to easily deploy mobile telecommunication networks cost-effectively and flexibly to support various features and functionalities. Each category in the developed taxonomy is discussed and compared regarding multiple parameters.

Semantics of dynamic hiding in mobile UTP-CSP

We present the semantics of the dynamic hiding operator, which allows hiding new channels as they are acquired in a mobile network. However, silent channels cannot be moved out. Using dynamic hiding, we model the behaviour of a mobile telecommunications network Private Branch Exchange (PBX), which allows the network operator to lease some channels for private use.

Analysis of the Influence of External Environmental Factors, Material Factors, Project Specifications and Team Capabilities on H3I Project Performance Installation of BTS Devices in Mobile Telecommunications Networks

Analysis of the Influence of External Environmental Factors, Material Factors, Project Specifications and Team Capabilities on H3I Project Performance Installation of BTS Devices in Mobile Telecommunications Networks

ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF SERVICE CHARACTERISTICS OF SIMILAR TRAFFIC IN GSM STANDARD MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS

P/M/1, which models the service processes of self-similar GPRS packet traffic in GSM standard mobile telecommunication networks, including Pareto and limited Pareto distributions, and fBM/D/1/∝ type single-channel mass service system, which takes into account the self-similarity of this traffic, has been viewed. Development of telecommunication networks. has gone through many different stages of development to the current modern networks, which eventually resulted in a large number of different types of mobile telecommunication networks. One of such networks is GSM (Global system for mobile communication) standard mobile telecommunication networks. In these networks, the directions of rapid development of modern service services are observed recently, one of these directions is the GPRS (General packet radio service) superstructure service, which is considered the superstructure of the GSM mobile network and carries out the transmission of data in packets. Analytical models of these systems are developed based on them Analytical methods have been proposed for evaluating relevant quality of service characteristics such as the relative average waiting time of packets in these systems, average queue length, buffer volume, and packet dwell time in the system. As well as the nature of the dependence of the shape parameter of the Pareto distribution on the Herst parameter was determined based on the experiment.

Contesting Infrastructural Futures: 5G Opposition as a Technological Drama

This paper addresses the public contestation of the rollout of the fifth generation of mobile telecommunications networks (5G) in the Netherlands. Drawing on Pfaffenberger’s framework of technological dramas, we analyze the variety of symbolic expressions about 5G made in documents published by “design constituencies” leading the technology’s implementation, “ambivalent intermediaries” reporting on 5G’s implementation and its emerging controversial status in the news, and by “impact constituencies” who organize on Facebook to oppose against 5G. The analysis describes a variety of publicly performed narratives and activities that build on symbolic meanings of a supposed public need for 5G, imaginaries of 5G futures, and scientifically manageable and responsible innovation. The paper demonstrates how the technological drama of 5G is constituted by tensions between different interpretations of these publicly performed meanings. However, amidst the drama, meanings of public need and imaginaries of 5G futures are temporarily suspended, constraining the stage for opposition and enforcing partial closure of the conflict.

Towards Innovative Solutions for Monitoring Precipitation in Poorly Instrumented Regions: Real-Time System for Collecting Power Levels of Microwave Links of Mobile Phone Operators for Rainfall Quantification in Burkina Faso

Since the 1990s, mobile telecommunication networks have gradually become denser around the world. Nowadays, large parts of their backhaul network consist of commercial microwave links (CMLs). Since CML signals are attenuated by rainfall, the exploitation of records of this attenuation is an innovative and an inexpensive solution for precipitation monitoring purposes. Performance data from mobile operators’ networks are crucial for the implementation of this technology. Therefore, a real-time system for collecting and storing CML power levels from the mobile phone operator “Telecel Faso” in Burkina Faso has been implemented. This new acquisition system, which uses the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), can simultaneously record the transmitted and received power levels from all the CMLs to which it has access, with a time resolution of one minute. Installed at “Laboratoire des Matériaux et Environnement de l’Université Joseph KI-ZERBO (Burkina Faso)”, this acquisition system is dynamic and has gradually grown from eight, in 2019, to more than 1000 radio links of Telecel Faso’s network in 2021. The system covers the capital Ouagadougou and the main cities of Burkina Faso (Bobo Dioulasso, Ouahigouya, Koudougou, and Kaya) as well as the axes connecting Ouagadougou to these cities.

E-literary creativity on the dark web: Covid-19 Whatsapp bot’s interactive storytelling in WhatsApperature

Social media affordances prioritize automatic interactive digital narrative about the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic to counteract misinformation and fake news in Nigeria. To engage the public about their health risk, WhatsApp chatbot was launched by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in collaboration with UNICEF on the U-Report platform. It is the first Nigerian multilingual SMS-based interactive chatbot to run on all mobile telecommunication networks (the dark web), WhatsApp and Facebook Messengers to address health issues. This essay describes SMS-Chatbot which offers narratives to counter health misinformation in five languages-English, Pidgin, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. A techno-discursive analysis is presented to explain the relationship between the technotext and the wreader by employing Pedro Barbosa’s theory of wreader[1] on the extracted English version which is perceived as the digital literary practice on WhatsApp, that is, “WhatsApperature”.
 
 [1] Blend of writer and reader, coined by George Landow (professor) in English. https://www.wordsense.eu/wreader/ consulted 24/10/2021 Wreader it has been used by Pedro Barbosa in Portugal since early late 1970s (Vuillemin 1999).

Using Machine Learning Techniques for Rainfall Estimation Based on Microwave Links of Mobile Telecommunication Networks

Using Machine Learning Techniques for Rainfall Estimation Based on Microwave Links of Mobile Telecommunication Networks

A node trust factor linked privacy preservation model in 5G networks with a multi-stage authentication model

There has been a dramatic expansion in the number and frequency of relationships between entities in mobile telecommunications networks over the last several years. For theseinteractions to be profitable, the parties involved must be able to count on one another. Since mobile networks require trust and reputation models to create feasible communications in 5 G and beyond networks, a collection of entities can create chains of operations between cross-operators with privacy and trustworthiness through mobile telecommunication network models. A major impediment to widespread communication beyond 5 G networks is the absence of automated, efficient, and scalable models for creating security and trust. Multitenancy and active infrastructure sharing will be major facilitators of new business models as 5 G networks expand. New security concerns are emerging due to these new opportunities, which is one of the primary obstacles for the mass implementation of 5 G networks. There are several ways in which attackers might use 5G-enabled situations to undertake lateral moves and disrupt 5 G services and infrastructure resources. Existing trust and security models cannot deal with the dynamic nature of the 5 G infrastructural threats or the multi-tenant security issues. Hence, we propose a Mobile Node Trust Factor Linked Privacy Preservation model for 5 G multi-stage authentication models in this work. A threat model for multi-stage authentication scenarios in an underlying 5 G network infrastructure is used to demonstrate how this model can be used. For secure end-to-end communication, authorization and strong authentication are necessary. A combination of anonymous authentication and authorization is needed to preserve the privacy of mobile devices which share personal information. The proposed model is compared with the traditional models and the proposed model results exhibit better performance.

5G mobile networks: reviewing security control correctness for mischievous activity

A mobile telecommunications network has arguably become a vital part of today’s critical communications infrastructure underpinning society’s interconnectedness. A mobile telecommunications network can be considered a critical communications infrastructure that has been built upon a complex set of network technologies. However, the migration in recent years from pre-5G to 5G network technologies has presented the mobile telecommunications network operators with not only several security-related challenges but also potential unfortunate risk exposure. A new approach called Control-Risk-Correctness (CRC) addresses the need for evaluating a complex mix of network technology and the associated trade-offs between security and risk. CRC simplifies the analysis by examining the mobile telecommunications network from the perspective of security control effectiveness and risk treatments. This article outlines the application of CRC when assessing a mobile telecommunication network and highlights direct risk mitigation treatments in an aim to increase security control effectiveness and decrease risk exposure. CRC usefulness will assist in the evaluation of existing networks and safeguarding new networks over the coming years.

A survey on privacy for B5G/6G: New privacy challenges, and research directions

Massive developments in mobile wireless telecommunication networks have been made during the last few decades. At present, mobile users are getting familiar with the latest 5G networks, and the discussion for the next generation of Beyond 5G (B5G)/6G networks has already been initiated. It is expected that B5G/6G will push the existing network capabilities to the next level, with higher speeds, enhanced reliability and seamless connectivity. To make these expectations a reality, research is progressing on new technologies, architectures, and intelligence-based decision-making processes related to B5G/6G. Privacy considerations are a crucial aspect that requires further attention in such developments, as billions of people and devices will be transmitting data through the upcoming network. However, the main recognition remains biased towards the network security. A discussion focused on privacy of B5G/6G is lacking at the moment. To address the gap, this paper provides a comprehensive survey on privacy-related aspects of B5G/6G networks. First, it discusses a taxonomy of different privacy perspectives. Based on the taxonomy, the paper then conceptualizes a set of challenges that appear as barriers to reach privacy preservation. Next, this work provides a set of solutions applicable to the proposed architecture of B5G/6G networks to mitigate the challenges. It also provides an overview of standardization initiatives for privacy preservation. Finally, the paper concludes with a roadmap of future directions, which will be an arena for new research towards privacy-enhanced B5G/6G networks. This work provides a basis for privacy aspects that will significantly impact peoples’ daily lives when using these future networks.