1. From Mobile Network Service to mobile Health
Topic: Mapping Telecommunications Coverage at Public Health
Facilities In Kano State, Nigeria
Presented by Egwim Michael.U.
2. •Describe the importance of telecommunication performance
choice for health service delivery
•Demonstrate how to use geographic information systems (GIS) to
measure telecommunication coverage.
•Compare Telecommunication Network performance.
Learning Objectives
TO:
3. Introduction
In low-resource settings, there
is often significant variability
in network coverage and signal
strength across geographic
regions, even between
competing network providers
Telecommunications network
infrastructure is a fundamental
component to the
implementation of effective
mobile health systems that can
respond to health service
delivery issues and
communicate vital health
information.
4. As it relates to Health Service
● It has been extremely difficult for health
professionals in Nigeria to compare the
performance of network operators, and thus
gain accurate information on what level of
service they can expect at health facilities
● Inability to access network performance data. It
is often hard for health programs in Nigeria to
access this kind of data, thus posing a major
challenge in identifying the best network
provider when designing ehealth interventions
Inability to make calls especially during epidemics, disease
outbreaks,obstetrics complication etc could be the difference
between life and death situations.
Major Challenges to health programs includes:
5. Stakeholder Meeting
eHealth systems Africa took advantage of its wealth in technological resources and gallant professionals in facilitating
improved communication and information flow across all levels of the Kano State health care system.
Strategies Adopted:
Kano Connect phone-call survey
Gsm Network Coverage Mapping
Validation
● The aim of the meeting was to identify the best and the alternate best network provider for the provision of
an efficient Closed User Group platform for health workers within RI zones/Vaccine direct delivery (VDD)
zones in kano state Nigeria.
● The primary objective is to critically analyse,measure and compare signal strengths as well as coverage
(Voice calls & Data services) of Network operators geographically at public health facilities within RI
zones/Vaccine direct delivery (VDD) zones in kano state Nigeria.
6. Kano Connect Phone-call Results & Statistics
Statistics
A phone-call survey that was conducted within a period
of two weeks was aimed at gathering information from
respondents about network service presence at health
facilities
7. GSM NETWORK COVERAGE MAPPING
The aim is to determine the most suitable network for health facilities phones within the state
and its respective signal strength ,and network coverage (2G,3G,4G) .
• A Crowdsourcing method was used in acquiring wireless signal data while spatial data
analysis and Geoprocessing was carried out in a G.I.S environment.
• An evaluation report was generated each week and was used to determine percentage
wireless network coverage for the entire state and which LGAs(Local Government
Areas) requires more visit for data capture.
8. GSM NETWORK COVERAGE MAPPING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Valid Sim Cards
Smart Phone
Laptop
Chargers and Charging Hubs
Hardware Requirements Software Requirements
Truck
Crisis-Signal App
Esri ArcGIS
FME Workbench
CartoDB
Microsoft Excel
Open Source Routing Machine
10. What is Crisis-Signal?
OpenSignal is a company that specializes in wireless coverage mapping. The
company crowdsources data on carrier signal quality from users who have its
consumer mobile application installed’
● Crisis Signal, developed by OpenSignal, is designed to collect realtime data
on cellular and Wi-Fi coverage during and after emergency situations.
Crisi-Signal App graphical user interface (GUI)
12. Crisis Signal Results
● Out of the 257 health facilities surveyed, we have captured, processed and analysed data for 180 health
facilities within a buffer of 100m (radius) from these health facilities (HthFa).
● 109 of the 180 HthFa collected had data for the four networks providers (MTN, Etisalat, Glo, and Airtel) while others had
three, two or one of the four network providers (see details in table below)
Network Provider NO Of Facilities Mapped
4 networks
109
3 Networks
26
2 Networks
26
1 Network
19
Total Facilities Mapped.
180
13. Overall Statistics so far reveals that MTN has the highest signal strength and reliability, followed by GLO,
Etisalat, and Airtel.
MTN offers the best data & voice service, followed by Airtel, Etisalat, and then Glo.
The values in the table above are measured in decibel/Milliwatts and correspond to that of the GSM ASU.
Below is what the values represent.
-105 to -100 = Bad/drop call
-99 to -90 = Getting bad/signal may break up
-89 to -80 = OK/shouldn't have problems, but maybe
-79 to -65 = Good
Over -65 = Excellent
14. Below is what the values represent.
1-2 = 2G
3-10 = 3G
11-14 = 3.75G
15 = 4G
The above mean value evaluates data service to be slightly moderate 3G for the four networks with MTN topping the chart.
So far MTN appears to offer the best data & voice services and Signal Strength------1st Choice
Airtel offers a good data &voice service and signal strength -------2nd Choice.
Etisalat equally offers a good data & voice service and signal strength but slightly below Airtel--------3rd Choice.
Glo offers the weakest data and voice service but has reliable signal strength-----4th choice.
15. Web-Base Application On CartoDB
● CartoDB is a cloud computing platform that provides GIS and web mapping tools for
display in a web browser.
17. Conclusion
• The GSM network coverage mapping has helped to confirm the presence and
quality of particular network providers at certain health facilities previously
captured as not present from the phone survey.
• It has equally helped to fill gaps and capture data at facilities where there were no
respondents from the phone survey
• This geospatial methodology can be used by other health programs to understand
measured differences in telecommunications network performance and make data-
driven decisions when selected appropriate network provider(s) to support eHealth
interventions.
