Tele Atlas gets RF planning data

To mark World Telecommunication and Information Security Day, Tele Atlas Africa has announced that it has acquired telecommunication data that can be used for radio frequency propagation planning. With this information, companies such as cellular providers can determine if they have adequate cellular coverage and at the same time prevent wasteful overlaps.

On 17 May, both ‚techies’ and consumers will celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. This day will raise awareness of the opportunities that the Internet and other information communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. In keeping with the spirit of this important message, Tele Atlas Africa – a provider of location and navigation solutions in South Africa – has acquired telecommunication data that is available for use in radio frequency (RF) propagation planning.

‚With our data, a company using radio frequencies (cellphones, radios, etc) can evaluate how many towers they should put in an area to gain maximum coverage, at the least cost,‚ explains Danny Grobben, managing director of Tele Atlas Africa. ‚For example, when a cellphone company decides to enter into a new area, or wants to evaluate their coverage, they can use this data to make sure they have optimum coverage and at the same time prevent wasteful overlap.‚

The data consists of three layers, namely: clutter data, DEM data, and vector data. Clutter data refers to land-use and land-cover, natural features and human activity on the surface of the earth. The data comes from aerial photography and satellite imagery. Height data is a 3 dimensional digital elevation model of the earth’s surface (DEM). The combination of Clutter and DEM information is the most important factor in RF propagation analysis. Lastly, vector data is linear information such as roads, waterways, and administrative boundaries. This information provides context when creating a model of an area, and is created from high resolution aerial photography or satellite imagery and GPS tracks.

During the planning stages, this data is very helpful to cellphone companies, wireless internet providers and radio operators – saving them money, equipment and various other resources.

‚The level of detail varies and can come in many formats including Asset, Planet, Mapinfo and Esri. Tele Atlas Africa provides this data either off-the-shelf or as a turn-key project for uncovered areas.‚