Malawi Television White Spaces (TVWS) Pilot Network Performance Analysis

Performance status of the Malawi TVWS pilot as of December 2013 is presented. Basic performance metrics like throughput, latency, SNR have been analyzed using known path loss empirical models like Hata, Asset and Friis. Additionally, this paper presents new data mining tools developed using Python and Perl which were deployed at each TVWS station's ALIX board running on Voyage Linux to abstract useful data for computation of network latency and throughput. Typically, for the longest tested link at 7.5 km, an average SNR = 24.7 dB, data-rate of 420 kbps and latency of 118 ms were observed using the collected data. Empirically, Hata and Asset resolved an average path loss value equal to 155 dB which was 51 dB higher than the ideal Friis Free Space Path Loss (FSPL) at UHF CH31 (554 MHz), BS antenna height of 23 m, receiver antenna height of 2m, and farthest station distance of 7.5 km. These results prove a 2.6 times superior propagation performance of the TVWS network over the commercial fixed broadband wireless network (assuming 2 Mbps backhaul, and all other parameters controlled). These measurements were done in dry season. Results for rainy season will be studied from December 2013 to June 2014.