Performance Analysis of Mobile Broadband Networks in Ibra City, Oman

Mobile broadband (MBB) is one of the critical goals in fifth-generation (5G) networks due to rising data demand. It provides very high-speed internet access with seamless connections. Existing MBB, including third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) networks, also requires monitoring to ensure good network performance. Thus, mobile network operators (MNOs) regularly monitor their network performance to meet user satisfaction. This paper presents a performance evaluation of existing MBB networks in Ibra city, Oman. The data measurements were collected through drive tests from two MNOs supporting 3G and 4G technologies: Omantel and Ooredoo. Several performance metrics are measured during the drive tests, such as signal quality, throughput (downlink and uplink), ping and handover rates. Measurement results demonstrated that the tested area has been covered with 4G networks and records an average throughput with downlink and uplink approximately 20 Mbps and 15 Mbps, respectively, with a minimum average ping and packet loss of 36.5 ms and 0.14, respectively, overall MNOs.