Propagation measurements and modelling at 1800 MHz in Lagos Nigeria

Path loss of measured data from GSM base stations located in Lagos has been compared against predictions made by free space model, Egli model, COST 231-Hata model, COST 231 Walfisch–Ikegami model, Ericsson model, ECC-33 model and the SUI model. The SUI model performed better in the rural area with a Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) of 2.76 dB. The Egli, Ericsson, ECC-33 and the COST 231 Walfisch–Ikegami models predict the path loss in the areas with RMSEs higher than the acceptable range of 6 dB. The COST 231 Hata model showed the best performance in the rural, suburban and urban areas with RMSEs of 6.91 dB, 4.80 dB and 4.59 dB, respectively. This model was modified and found to predict the measured path loss in the rural, suburban and urban areas with RMSEs of 2.50 dB, 3.64 dB and 5.06 dB, respectively, which are acceptable for signal prediction.