Interactive portal was created to let anyone interested obtain information about mobile networks coverage maps in Serbia. It allows customers to view a complete coverage map for the entire territory of Serbia, by technology per mobile network operator (MNO) and thus check calculation of mobile network operators’ coverage and signal levels at locations throughout the country. Mobile networks coverage maps will allow users to see the level of mobile coverage where they work or live. It will also help customers when making choices between operators based on predicted coverage availability in defined area or chosen location.
The coverage map shows predicted mobile coverage of different technologies in outdoor conditions (outdoor coverage) across Serbia and at particular addresses or coordinates selected by customers. Also, customers can search and zoom in to a particular area or address.
It is displayed signal strength for all mobile network operators ranging from excellent, good, acceptable and unacceptable. In terms of coverage, legend indicates the following simplified explanations:
Given that coverage maps are based on coverage prediction, the accuracy of all results cannot be fully guaranteed. In addition, signal quality can be further degraded by the influence of the environment through which the signal propagates, different objects in the immediate environment, current traffic, or load (congestion) in the mobile network. Taking all this into account, it can be said that the calculation gives a good estimate of the signal level, and for accurate results it is necessary to perform measurements at a specific location.
Mobile networks coverage maps have been generated using data provided by the mobile network operators. RATEL periodically receives accurate datasets of network architecture from each network operator. A radio network planning tool is then used to process data and generate coverage predictions using an optimized RATEL prediction model in tandem with a digital terrain model (DTM) along with land type data (clutter data).
RATEL will update the map on a regular basis (quarterly) to reflect changes in predicted coverage as MNOs expand their networks.
The portal header consists of navigation tabs and supports the selection of the display of the complete content of the page in the desired language via the language bar.
The header navigation (Figure 1) consists of four tabs, of which the default tab is "Map" whose main content is a map of mobile signal coverage with additional UI components. Switching to the desired tab is done with a simple mouse click, when the main contents of the tab will be displayed. Depending on the device (desktop, laptop, mobile phone...) through which we access the portal, the navigation bar adjusts and adapts to the level of the supported resolution of the access device (Figure 1).
The language is selected via the language bar by clicking or selecting from the drop-down menu the desired language in which we want the main content to be displayed. Depending on the device (desktop, laptop, mobile phone ...) through which we access the portal, the language bar adapts to the level of supported resolution of the access device (Figure 2).
The map consists of two panels - functional and navigation, filter section and map palette (Figure 3).
A functional panel is a UI component of a map that provides various functions when working with a map. Depending on the resolution of the access device, the functional panel can be horizontal or vertical (Figure 4).
The functional panel provides the following features:
To download data / reports on coverage within the sidebar „Statistics" (Figure 7):
All reports are displayed in the language selected within the map header. The language selection is described in the chapter Use header navigation and language selection.
The map navigation panel (Figure 10) is a UI component intended for navigation on a map with standard functions.
The navigation panel supports the following functions:
The map filter section is a UI component that provides the following features:
The map palette is a UI component that represents a palette of predefined signal values according to the criteria for the corresponding colors. It can be positioned horizontally or vertically depending on the resolution and orientation of the access device (Figure 13).
If we want to compare the quality of mobile signals between operators (or by technology), it is necessary to perform the following steps: