Assessing capacity and coverage planning: 5G NR performance using 2300 MHz in urban area

Abstract

The rapid evolution of mobile communications technology and increasing data traffic demands have necessitated fifth generation (5G) network development, especially in urban environments. While previous studies examined 3.5 GHz and 700 MHz bands, the 2300 MHz mid-band frequency remains unexplored despite offering optimal balance between coverage and capacity. This research analyzes capacity and coverage planning for 5G implementation at 2300 MHz in Bandung City’s urban area (167.31 km²), employing the urban macro (UMa) propagation model for line of sight (LoS) and non-line of sight (NLoS) conditions, validated through network planning simulations. Capacity planning projects user growth from 421,758 (2024) to 479,453 (2028), with traffic demand increasing from 1.92 to 2.37 Gbps/km². Coverage analysis identifies 86 sites required for optimal deployment, driven by downlink requirements. Performance simulations demonstrate “Excellent” signal strength synchronization signal–reference signal received power (SS-RSRP: -75 to -70 dBm), “Good” signal quality synchronization signal–signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SS-SINR: 10-15 dB), and average throughput of 137.42 Mbps, exceeding IMT-2020 requirements by 37%. The deployment achieves 72.5% user connectivity (132,071 users). While simulation results confirm successful urban 5G deployment balancing coverage and capacity, real-world pilot validation would strengthen practical applicability for network planners implementing similar urban networks.