Impact of Maritime Environmental Factors on the Deployment of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Networks: A Case Study of the Forcados-Ogulagha Region of Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of maritime environmental factors on the deployment of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks, focusing on the Forcados-Ogulagha region of Delta State, Nigeria. The research examines how different environmental conditions, such as sea state, atmospheric conditions, and terrain, affect LTE signal propagation. Data were collected over 18 months using Cluster Drive Testing (CDT) to capture various seasons and weather patterns. The results highlight the significant influence of environmental factors on LTE pathloss, with clear air conditions over freshwater showing the least attenuation, while wet air over saltwater presents the most challenging conditions for signal propagation. The combination of high humidity and the reflective nature of saltwater in the study location led to increased path-loss and reduced signal strength, making it the most challenging scenario for LTE network deployment either the saltwater surface causes multipath propagation, potentially affecting signal quality. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing LTE network deployment in maritime environments