Raster data representing the area covered by 3G mobile communications around the world as of February 2020.
Purpose
The Mobile Coverage Explorer data is created from submissions, made directly to Collins Bartholomew or the GSMA from network operators, which provide roaming detail for inclusion in the GSMA's Roaming and Coverage Maps web application.
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.
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/GSMA
Native Data Set Environment
Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.7.1.11595
Data Quality Information
Completeness Report
Data have been sourced directly from the network operators. However, not every operator has submitted data and so there are inevitable gaps in coverage. The following percentage of operators in the latest release have submitted their coverage data (out of total operators who are members of the GSMA with licences for each technology): 2G, 48%; 3G, 49%; 4G, 26%; 5G, 1%. In 2019, 99 operators submitted new data for inclusion in the MCE datasets.
Spatial Data Organization Information
Direct Spatial Reference Method
Raster
Raster Object Information
Raster Object Type
Grid Cell
Row Count
82509
Column Count
151456
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
Operators are asked to submit strong (indoor) and variable (outdoor) signal strengths as part of their submissions. Strong signals are defined as greater than -92dBm for 2G and 3G, or greater than -105 dBm for 4G; variable signals are defined as between -92 and -100 dBM for 2G and 3G, or between -105 and -120 dBm for 4G (signal strengths for 5G are not yet classified). However, the data received from operators often does not include signal strength information or does not follow the above guidelines. Therefore, whilst the rasters retain the strong and variable distinctions, this inconsistency must be understood by the user.
The cell values in the MCE rasters are as follows: 1 for strong signal strength, and 2 for variable signal strength.
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
