Evaluation of the Efficiency of Cellular Communication Tower Services in Babylon Governorate

Abstract

Telecommunications networks are a cornerstone of modern infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in supporting economic, social, and service activities. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the efficiency of telecommunications tower distribution in Babylon Governorate using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and ArcMap software. The study relies on field and official data, examining the total number of towers, which is 770, distributed across the governorate's various districts and sub-districts.

The study employs a spatial and statistical analysis methodology, comprising several key steps. These include establishing a geographic database of the towers and linking it to demographic and urban indicators. Spatial analysis (such as kernel density and buffering) is then conducted to determine the efficiency of the towers' spatial distribution and assess the alignment of their locations with population distribution. Statistical analysis tools are also used to test the strength of the relationship between the number of towers and population size in the administrative units.

The results clearly showed that cell towers are concentrated in major urban centers such as the districts of Hilla, Mahawil, Musayyib, and Hashimiyah, with a total of 600 towers. Meanwhile, outlying and rural districts and sub-districts suffer from weak coverage, with only 170 towers covering vast rural areas exceeding their capacity. This negatively impacts service quality and availability. The results also indicated that the current distribution does not keep pace with rapid population growth and urban expansion in several areas, leading to spatial imbalances in the equitable distribution of communication services.

The study concluded that the distribution of mobile phone tower locations in the governorate is unsuitable, resulting in inadequate spatial and population coverage due to inconsistent numbers and irregular distribution. This affects the variability in service quality across tower locations and lowers the spatial suitability score.