OPTIMIZATION DRIVE TESTFOR BANGWE AREA

MAY 2011

PREPARED BY: S.G. LUPIYAPLANNING AND OPTIZATION ENGINEER

30 MAY 2011

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BACKGROUND• As a routine, Drive Tests are conducted around various locations to check

network performance and determine the needs of the areas.

• Most of the areas around Blantyre town were driven around and now outskirt areas are also under investigation.

• Bangwe is a densely populated residential area that has a few dedicated sites.

• A series of drive tests conducted recently has revealed that most of the areas have poor coverage here.

• The following snap shot outline the findings from the Drive Tests.

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POOR ROAD COVERAGE

MTHANDIZI

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BCA HILL WITH WEAK SIGNALS

Less than 2Km

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MPINGWE SERVING IN BCA TERRITORY

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AREAS WITH WEAK SIGNALS BUT BCA STILL VERY VISIBLE

POOR COVERAGE STRETCH

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OBSERVATION• The RF cables at BCA Site are not only very old but also too

long for the intended coverage area.

• As of now, BCA is surrounded by Limbe_Medicines, Bangwe_Clinic and Chimaliro nearby sites. This then means that we do not need the current Antenna Heights at BCA.

• The cable length and old RF cables are causing the weak signals around the Bangwe and Namiyango areas. Here, BCA is visible and less than 2km away.

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CURRENT GSM HEIGHTS TO HIGH

CURRENT ANTENNA HEIGHT- 50m

PROPOSED HEIGHT

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BANGWE <2Km, AS SEEN FROM BCA SITE

THE DRIVE TESTED AND PLOTED AREA

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CHIMALIRO AS SEEN FROM BCA SITE

SECTOR_3 FACES HERE

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CONCLUSION

• To enhance network coverage around Bangwe and Namiyango areas, BCA RF cables need urgent replacement and height reduction to 30m, all Sectors.

• Once this is done, road coverage will improve and traffic is expected to increase.

• Also, the undoubtedly poor indoor coverage will be improved.