Raster data representing the area covered by 4G mobile communications around the world as of 2020.
Purpose
The data have been created using OpenCellID tower locations. These derived locations have been used as the center points of a radius of coverage, 12 kilometers for GSM networks and 4km for 3G and 4G networks. These circles of coverage from each tower have then been merged to create an overall representation of network coverage. The data are intended to fill the gaps where network operators have not yet submitted coverage data and should be viewed as an approximation only.
Supplemental Information
Release 201912 has been renamed 2020 to indicate the year of release.
For the 2020 release of data, the data format has been changed from vector to raster. The reasons for this change are:
Some polygons are becoming too complicated in their depiction of detailed areas of coverage. Consequently, any analysis or rendering is taking much longer than is necessary compared with using raster data.
Raster datasets do not suffer from vector topology errors.
The use of raster pyramids can greatly increase rendering speeds when viewing areas of coverage.
Sources used to compile the global datasets are raster-based.
It has been possible to retain different classes of signal strengths when compiling the raster. This was difficult when compiling the vector-based coverage.
Other global datasets, particularly from academic institutions, are raster-based.
One disadvantage to the change of format is that it is no longer possible to show where country coverages overlap.
Further information on OpenCellID tower locations can be found at http://wiki.opencellid.org/wiki/What_is_OpenCellID
Map and Geospatial Information Center, Lewis Library, Princeton University
Delivery Point
Map and Geospatial Information Center, Lewis Library, Princeton University
City
Princeton
State
NJ
Postal Code
08544
Country
US
Contact Telephone
609-258-1097
Credit
Collins Bartholomew/OpenCellID
Native Data Set Environment
Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.7.1.11595
Data Quality Information
Completeness Report
The following limitations of the OpenCellID data are noteworthy. The values for the radius of coverage from the tower locations are based on information within operator submissions with a tendency towards minimum values. Tower locations are derived from data collected from mobile phone users and so the coverage tends to be concentrated along routes and built-up areas. Only a small number of Android or Blackberry apps collect data and so the coverage tends to be concentrated in countries where certain apps are popular. And the derived coverage does not take account of obstructing factors such as terrain variations.
Spatial Data Organization Information
Direct Spatial Reference Method
Raster
Raster Object Information
Raster Object Type
Grid Cell
Row Count
82654
Column Count
151180
Spatial Reference Information
Horizontal Coordinate System Definition
Planar
Map Projection
Map Projection Name
WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere
Planar Coordinate Information
Planar Coordinate Encoding Method
coordinate pair
Coordinate Representation
Abscissa Resolution
0.000000006714873101998366
Ordinate Resolution
0.000000006714873101998366
Planar Distance Units
meter
Geodetic Model
Horizontal Datum Name
D WGS 1984
Ellipsoid Name
WGS 1984
Semi-major Axis
6378137.0
Denominator of Flattening Ratio
298.257223563
Entity and Attribute Information
Entity and Attribute Overview
Cell values of 1 indicate approximate areas of coverage.
Distribution Information
Name
Metadata Reference Information
Metadata Date
20200721
Metadata Contact
Contact Information
Contact Organization Primary
Contact Organization
Map and Geospatial Information Center, Lewis Library, Princeton University
Contact Address
Address
Map and Geospatial Information Center, Lewis Library, Princeton University
City
Princeton
State or Province
NJ
Postal Code
08544
Country
US
Contact Voice Telephone
609-258-1097
Metadata Standard Name
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
