Mobile networks benchmark Radio Coverage

RADIO COVERAGE

Frequency bands (2G, 3G, 4G) used by operators, during the Mobile Network Benchmarking activity, is presented in Figure 1.

frequency bands used
Fig. 1. Frequency bands used by operators

2G/GSM: All three operators used the 900 MHz band. The 1800 MHz band was used by Vip mobile and in a smaller extent by Telenor.

3G/UMTS: All three operators used the 2100 MHz band. The 900 MHz band was used by all three operators, mainly by Telenor which still was using CSFB technology.

4G/LTE: All three operators used the 800 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, additionally 2100MHz was utilized by Telenor, in particular spots. Telekom Srbija and Vip mobile used both bands evenly in all aggregations, while Telenor was using additional 2100MHz band e.g. in Zrenjanin city. All three operators were mainly using LTE 20 MHz bandwidth in Large and Small Cities, while on Roads, LTE 10 MHz bandwidth was mainly utilized.

Carrier Aggregation (CA) usage depends on the network configuration and the amount of data sent during the test. In Large Cities, Telenor had over 40% usage of LTE CA, Telekom Srbija had over 35% and Vip mobile around 24% usage of LTE CA. Usage of LTE CA in Small Cities was much lower than in the Large Cities. In Small Cities, Telenor took the lead with over 30% of LTE CA, Telekom and Vip mobile were almost equal in the LTE CA usage of around 28%. On Roads only Vip mobile had noticeable number of samples with CA, around 14%, Telenor was second with around 12% and Telekom Srbija was last with 7% of LTE CA usage.
 

Coverage statistics

Charts with mobile coverage statistics, showing the distribution of radio signal levels for 2G/GSM, 3G/UMTS and 4G/LTE technologies, according to criteria defined by RATEL for the purpose of the Benchmarking campaign, are presented below in Figure 2:

  2G/GSM signal level 3G/UMTS signal level 4G/LTE signal level
Poor L<-95dBm L<-105dBm L<-110dBm
Fair -95dBm ≤ L < - 85dBm -105dBm ≤ L < -95dBm -110dBm ≤ L < -100dBm
Good -85dBm ≤ L < -65dBm -95dBm ≤ L < -65dBm -100dBm ≤ L < -80dBm
Excellent  L ≥ -65dBm L ≥ -65dBm L ≥ -80dBm


2G/GSM network coverage is presented in Figure 3

2g gsm coverage

Fig. 3. 2G/GSM coverage

2G/GSM network coverage maps for all three mobile operators are shown in Figure 4.

Telekom Srbija
2g gsm network telekom

Telenor
2g gsm network telnor

Vip mobile
2g gsm network vip

Fig. 4. 2G/GSM network coverage maps

The best coverage of 2G network was achieved by Telekom Srbija network. Telenor and Vip mobile had slightly worse 2G coverage and lower signal quality, comparing to Telekom Srbija network.

3G/UMTS network coverage is presented in Figure 5.

3g umts coverage

Fig. 5. 3G/UMTS coverage

3G/UMTS network coverage maps for all three mobile operators are shown in Figure 6.

Telekom Srbija
2g gsm network telekom

Telenor
3g umts network telenor

Vip mobile
2g gsm network vip

Fig.6. 3G/UMTS network coverage maps

The network with the best 3G coverage was Telenor. This result was caused by the widest UMTS 900 MHz footprint, with a well-developed UMTS 900 MHz coverage outside of cities. Telekom was last, with about 8% less samples in the excellent category than the competition.

4G/LTE network coverage is presented in Figure 7.

3g umts coverage

Fig. 7. 4G/LTE network coverage

4G/LTE network coverage maps for all three mobile operators are presented in Figure 8.

Telekom Srbija
2g gsm network telekom

Telenor
4g lte network telenor

Vip mobile
2g gsm network vip

Fig. 8. 4G/LTE network coverage maps

Fig. 8. 4G/LTE network coverage maps
The 4G coverage showed that Telenor was the leader, by having the smallest share of samples with poor 4G signal levels and the highest share of samples with good 4G signal levels. Vip mobile remained behind the two operators, by having the smallest share of the 4G good signal levels and the highest share of poor 4G signal levels