Modeling of 4G coverage using Matlab and validation with real measurements obtained through G-NetTrack

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to model and validate 4G LTE coverage in "Las Villas," a residential area of Babahoyo, to determine the actual quality of service compared to theoretical propagation models. The method used was descriptive-comparative, non-experimental, and quantitative. It was based on the collection of real-world data obtained through Drive Tests and Walk Tests, using the G-NetTrack Lite app on Android devices. The acquired data were exported in .csv format and processed in MATLAB. In this software, the LTE Toolbox library and the COST-231 Hata propagation model were used to simulate the signal and create coverage maps. Consequently. The comparison between measured and simulated values showed acceptable agreement according to MAE and RMSE metrics. The findings allow us to conclude that the COST-231 Hata model provides an appropriate approximation of the actual 4G signal behavior in the studied area, thus validating its use for planning and analyzing LTE mobile networks.