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Measurement campaign in Mali

In August 2002, ATDI carried out a vast campaign of measurements of the occupation of the radio spectrum in the 9 regional capitals of the Republic of Mali. The purpose of this campaign was to draw up an assessment of the frequencies used in the country on behalf of an operator about to become operative there.

In mid-July, ATDI successfully answered the invitation for tender launched on the 31st of May 2002 by SONATEL. The purpose of the invitation for tender was an «Availability Study» for the spectrum in Mali. The Senegalese company is beginning GSM operations in Mali, via its subsidiary IKATEL. In the absence of centralised data on the use of frequencies, it wished to have monitoring carried out on the rate of occupation of 15 frequency bands between 400 MHz and 26.5 GHz. Geographically, the spectrum was to be monitored in the 9 regional capitals of Mali (Bamako, Kayes, Ségou, Mopti, Gao, Kidal, Timbuktu, Sikasso and Koulikoro) where the future operator is to install a GSM network.

At the end of July, within the space of a fortnight, ATDI brought together a spectrum analyser ranging up to 26 GHz, an antenna capable of mea-suring frequencies between 300 MHz and 1 GHz, and another for the 1 to 27 GHz range. When the antenna tripods and accessories were added, the total weight of the equipment was 80 Kg. ATDI then organised the logistics for transporting the equipment from Paris to Bamako.

The equipment and the ATDI consultant left on the 4th of August for Bamako, where they were greeted by a team from the Malian company GEMAT which was to assist them throughout the mission. In each town, in accordance with its size and its configuration, between 3 and 20 measurement sites were selected. At each point, generally located on clear terrain or in the vicinity of a telecom pylon, the 15 frequency bands were monitored and the spectrum recorded.

The measurement was complemented by a series of photographic plates and the recording of the site’s GPS coordinates. The mission was completed on the 20th of August after covering more than 5000 km of roads and tracks, sometimes across the Sahara desert, and with 900 spectrum readings recorded and to be analysed.

All the measurements made were compiled in a report describing town by town the rate of occupation of each frequency band. This report will enable the operator to choose the frequencies to be used, order the appropriate equipment and identify the risks of interference.

Generally speaking, nationwide measurement of spectrum occupation enables an emerging country to make an inventory of the frequencies used, freely or otherwise, officially or pirated, and to constitute a database necessary for allocating operating licences or for starting a spectrum monitoring activity within a regulation agency.