Spatial decision support tool for selecting suitable sites for base transceiver stations: a case of Roke Telkom (SD-BTS)

Abstract

Telecom companies continuously seek to expand and enhance their networks for both strategic growth and regulatory compliance, requiring meticulous site selection for base stations (BTSs) to ensure optimal service quality and profitability. Site selection in BTS installation is crucial because the success and performance of BTSs heavily rely on the suitability of the chosen sites. It directly impacts coverage, signal quality, and the overall revenue. The main objective of this study was to develop a spatial decision support tool for selecting suitable sites for installing Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs), using Roke Telkom as the case study. The specific objectives were: (i) to investigate challenges in installing Base Transceiver Stations and the requirements for addressing them, (ii) to design and implement a spatial decision support tool that meets these requirements, and (iii) to test and validate the spatial decision support tool to ensure it fulfills the necessary criteria. Case study research was used to investigate the existing system where Roke Telkom was considered as the case study. Data gathered included: (1) procedure followed when selecting a site for installing BTSs, (2) criteria considered when choosing sites for BTS installations, (3) tools and current method used when selecting sites, (4) challenges with the current site selection method, and (5) possible solutions to adopt to address the challenges. During implementation, ArcGIS online was used to manage and create maps that are hosted on Esri’s ArcGIS servers in the cloud. The user interface was designed using Python and Visual studio. The study resulted into a Web-based Spatial Decision Support System (SD_BTS) which allows for data input in form of both spatial and non-spatial data to give reports in a visualized form. A total of 10 expert engineers of Roke Telkom were engaged to evaluate SD-BTS using a Walkthrough technique. The engineers appreciated that the system was well-suited for its intended purpose