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Assam University Journal of Science & Technology :

Physical Sciences and Technology
Vol. 7 Number II
137-143, 2011

ISSN 0975-2773

Propagation Study during Rain on DTH Service in North East India

1

Prodipto Das, 2Lingfen Sun, 1Bipul Syam Purkayastha

1
Department of Computer Science, Assam University, Silchar-788011, India.
2
School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Plymouth, Devon, PL, UK
Correspondence; email: 1prodiptodas2002@rediffmail.com
Abstract
3G mobile systems have been launched which drastically offered content rich services, wireless broadband
access to Internet, and worldwide roaming, GPS and many more. However the broadcasting nature of the
wireless communication and increased popularity of wireless devices introduce problems in many directions.
Mobile users and providers must be assured of the error-free successful data communication. The present
research work is to improve the quality of mobile services in heavy raining zones of sub-tropical Indian
regions by identifying the communication problems in the existing network communication and to provide
reliable and cost effective solutions to the problems. The present paper discusses the rainfall and rain
attenuation of various capital cities of North East Indian Regions.
Keywords : Mobile 3G technology, Signal quality, rain attenuation, SNR

Introduction
3G technology is launched in India as next
generation of mobile network. 3G is first launched
by BSNL, a Govt. undertaking Telecommunication
Company. BSNL 3G facilitates high speed mobile
broadband, video calling, mobile TV, and many
more new facilities. 3G technology will definitely
touch the rural Indians by its Mobile Internet
Services or Mobile Broadband. Mobile broadband
is basically wireless internet access, which enables
you to access internet anywhere. Moreover, 3G
networks will facilitate video calls, live TV, high
speed internet, emails and easy downloading other
than the usual voice call and messaging services
found on a 2G network (Schiller, 2003).

used in the evaluation of rain attenuation in

different areas. Rain attenuation data is required
to setup a new mobile network or any wireless
network (Ippolito, Crane, Das et al.).
In the experimental work, DAH model is used to
calculate the rain attenuation.
The table (Table 1) shows the latitudes and
longitudes of different places of North East India.
Place
Cachar
Hailakandi
Karimganj
Dispur
North Tripura
Agartala
Shillong
Aizawl
Imphal
Kohima
Itanagar
Gangtok

Now the main constraint of the 3G technology is

the high speed communication. The high speed
communication requires error-free reliable data
communication (Dissanyake, 1997). North East
(NE) India is a heavy rain area which is covered
with tropical forests. There are eight states in the
region. The average rainfall is higher than other
parts of India. This paper focuses on the future of
3G technology in the North Eastern India.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)
rainfall data and recorded data for six years are

Latitude
24.490 N
24.410 N
24.520 N
26.110 N
24.370 N
23.500 N
25.300 N
23.360 N
24.440 N
25.400 N
27.080 N
27.200 N

Longitude
92.510 E
92.340 E
92.210 E
91.440 E
92.170 E
91.250 E
91.300 E
93.000 E
93.580 E
94.080 E
93.400 E
88.400 E

Table 1: Lat-Long of North East Regions

- 137 -

Propagation Study during Rain on .......

The table 2(a)-2(l) shows the five years of rainfall

data (in mm) of the NE Indian regions. A few
data are recorded using Rainwise Rain gauge.
The rainfall is very high in the Barak Valley during
the last couple of years. If the rainfall data of the
three districts of Barak Valley, Assam are analysed

(shown in figure 1(a)-1(c)) it can be easily predict

that the data and voice communication is very
much effected between June to September. The
average rainfall is around 400-500 mm. This type
of weather is not suitable for communication with
higher frequencies (Sinka, Hogg, Islam,
Mandeep).

Fig. 1(a): Rain Data of Cachar (Silchar), Assam

Fig. 1(b): Rain Data of Hailakandi, Assam

Fig. 1(c): Rain Data of Karimganj, Assam

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

0.4
0
0
28.8
0

92.7
50.4
104.2
10.9
24.6

375.8
3.7
53.9
144.5
111

162.3
154.7
387.7
65.3
238.5

386.6
258
326.9
238.6
200.2

412.8
664.6
467.7
420.3
511.8

568.9
498.1
393.9
554.1
456.8

452.3
221.5
450.1
749.4
566.5

258.5
150.7
460.2
470.4
265.4

153.3
48.9
445.7
234.5
91.2

7.7
28.9
63.2
0
38.4

3.4
0.4
0.7
2.9
0

2874.7
2079.9
3154.2
2919.7
2504.4

Table 2 (a): Rainfall of Cachar

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

0.1
0
0
23.3
0

50.5
20.5
119
9.2
2.2

337.1
1.1
58.9
87.2
68.8

172
175.2
368.1
61.6
97.2

486.2
392.2
306.4
194.9
125.5

299.9
671.4
556.2
340.5
116.3

596.9
347.1
296.8
396.2
164

359.1
265.6
401.5
661.4
168.9

237.6
165.8
495.1
247.9
284

130.2
156.3
211.7
277.7
61.6

0
6.9
62.8
0
8

1
0
0
0
0

2670.6
2202.1
2876.5
2299.9
1096.5

Table 2 (b): Rainfall of Hailakandi

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

0.1
0
0
2
0

25
35.4
67.2
5.4
0

580.4
17.7
38.3
102
21.1

224
271.2
470.9
93.4
89.2

621
579.6
342.3
240
96

376
1410.8
740.6
272.8
611.2

1192.9
357.8
513.2
306.1
470.1

539.6
235.8
431.8
326.7
548.1

279.6
278.4
629
84
281.1

267.9
57.6
153.8
92.4
169.3

0
0
84.4
0
10.5

0
0
0
0
0

Table 2 (c): Rainfall of Karimganj

- 138 -

4106.5
3244.3
3471.5
1524.8
2296.6

Propagation Study during Rain on .......

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

19.7
0
0
33.7
0

3.7
10.1
90.1
10.2
1.6

143.1
9.8
30.8
139.2
60.1

174.5
210.6
305.7
159.1
112.1

261.9
252.2
204.6
143.1
200.1

168.5
218.5
344.2
353.8
190.2

205.9
157.2
416.5
236.3
363.1

520.2
118
112.4
281
286.7

92.3
77.1
224
125.9
99.5

145.1
104.6
141
115.6
119

2.2
22.6
20.1
0
3.7

0
8.1
0
1.7
4.2

1737.1
1188.8
1889.4
1599.6
1440.3

Table 2 (d): Rainfall of Kamrup

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

0
0
0
19.9
0

120.7
0
90.8
21.8
5.3

283.7
4.6
79.6
47.3
28

195.4
257.2
349.9
83.5
243.4

717
476.7
325.7
198.5
469.7

223
729.2
590
326.7
282.4

537
254
368
234.5
258.2

234.2
323.4
322.3
383.5
393.1

250.5
160.9
390.8
257.3
279.4

201.1
39.2
151.2
331.7
148.2

0.8
8.8
85.7
0
13.6

1.2
0.7
0
0
0

2764.6
2254.7
2754
1904.7
2121.3

Table 2 (e): Rainfall of North Tripura

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

0
0
0
40.8
0

5.8
0
39.4
21.1
3.2

199.4
0
20.8
56.1
2

99.8
184.7
339.6
24
46.1

317.1
574.1
285
215.3
284.2

166.5
395.5
631.1
234.8
281.1

317.7
158.5
694.9
352.5
499.5

403.3
291.2
214.4
302.4
379.4

286.8
254.9
265.9
152.7
214.2

200.9
93.9
239.9
198.1
113.6

0
2
104.8
0
39.1

0.6
0
0
0.1
0

1997.9
1954.8
2835.8
1597.9
1862.4

Table 2 (f): Rainfall of Agartala

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

13.2
0.2
0
40.6
0

12.7
88
75.1
21.5
45

342.4
29.2
18.2
233.7
59

273.8
378.7
527.9
257
254.8

609.2
833.4
592.4
295.7
659.5

1276.2
1433.3
1714.6
1211.4
766.9

1396.8
817.6
2997.5
2035
1482

1585.7
368.9
643.1
1899.8
1432.1

295.2
576.1
1326.1
591.5
399.2

429.1
37.9
522.1
292
284.9

3.7
27.8
171.8
2.7
2.2

1.9
9.4
0.3
4.3
0.7

6239.9
4600.5
8589.1
6885.2
5386.3

Table 2 (g): Rainfall of Shillong

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

6.1
0
0
37.7
0

6.7
4.8
61.3
9.4
0.3

153.7
1.5
26.9
9.2

85.1
57.1
222.2
55.5
125.8

295.5
387.5
201.1
140.4
201.4

118.5
469.1
511.6
246.3
207.5

410.7
411.2
424.5
258.8
300.3

250.6
264.4
447.1
426.4
331.6

308.7
242.2
580.3
377.8
249

222
182.7
185.6
164.8
231.9

34.8
2.5
99.3
24.6
12

5.4
0
0
0
0

Table 2 (h): Rainfall of Aizawl

- 139 -

1897.8
2023
2759.9
1750.9
1659.8

Propagation Study during Rain on .......

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

0
0
0
33.3
0

35.2
37.4
184.7
31.7
22.5

99.1
1.9
6.6
78.9
40.1

71
70.1
158.5
14.8
74.4

112.4
205.8
256.7
93.2
105.3

86.4
169.6
220.2
170.1
108.1

193.7
152.9
129.1
256
183.1

182.8
67.5
89.8
200.5
203.4

213.8
94.8
156.9
85.6
113.9

185.4
2.3
140.6
95.8
152.1

19.1
30.7
49.7
0.9
5.2

31.8
13.2
0.2
2
0

1230.7
846.2
1393
1062.8
1008.1

Table 2 (i): Rainfall of Imphal

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

7.6
0
1.3
41.9
0

33.3
22.7
63.9
5.4
7.9

101.2
10.6
23.3
64.5
24.6

55.4
85
103.2
37.4
33.7

171.1
214
243.9
182
146.6

263.8
309.8
286.7
350.3
161.5

175.6
234.9
318.1
406.4
243.7

346.1
102.5
458.3
300.5
367.1

255.7
261.3
196.5
349.8
190.1

147.7
83.5
195.2
131.1
122.1

4.5
25.4
77.7
0
10.5

8.3
10.4
7.3
6.4
0

1570.3
1360.1
1975.4
1875.7
1307.8

Table 2 (j): Rainfall of Kohima

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

0
7.6
18.8
68.9
41.6

58.5
246
113
21.8
23.8

180.9
42.2
62.3
162.5
47.2

163
184.2
469.7
186.6
248.6

271.9
147.9
505.8
405.8
389.3

524.6
429.9
923.1
1035
520.4

459.9
381.4
643.9
791.9
571.4

638.6
191
272.9
1017.7
564.4

210
315.3
541.9
382.8
101

79.8
108
127.8
180
204.7

16.3
72.3
11.6
0
25.8

0
22.3
8.8
8.4
7

2603.5
2148.1
3699.6
4261.4
2745.2

Table 2 (k): Rainfall of Itanagar

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total

24.4
0.8
2.1
26.5
5.7

76.7
24.9
176.5
20.2
4.2

134.3
90.1
67.4
136.2
87.3

238.6
189.1
211
291.1
251.7

407.9
418.8
281.4
177.4
335.4

548.2
461.9
455.4
611.5
355.4

630
468.2
656.3
529
408.6

442.6
466.1
377.2
541.5
454.1

354.5
401.7
476
348.9
180.1

120.1
98.8
98.9
79.1
201.6

11.8
35.1
23.4
21
1.7

1.5
11.2
5
17.1
5.4

2990.6
2666.7
2830.6
2799.5
2291.2

Table 2 (l): Rainfall of Gangtok

Methodology
In the experiment, the ground station with satellite
signal receiver and rain gauge is set up initially at
Silchar City, India (latitude: 24.50 N, longitude:
92.510 E, and height: 114.68 m above sea level).
The DAH model (adopted by ITU) is used to
calculate the rain attenuation. The steps of DAH
propagation model are as follows:
Algorithm:
Step 1 : Obtain the effective rain height H
Step 2 : Calculate the slant path length L
Step 3 : Calculate the horizontal projection of the
slant-path ( L g )

Step 4 : Determine the specific attenuation ()

(dB/Km)
Step 5 : Calculate the horizontal path adjustment
factor rh0.01 for 0.01% of the time
Step 6 : Calculate the adjusted rainy path length
Lr (Km) through rain
Step 7 : Calculate the vertical adjustment factor
rv0.01 for 0.01% of the time
Step 8 : Calculate the effective path length
through rain Le (Km)
Step 9 : Determine the attenuation exceeded for
0.01% of an average year

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Propagation Study during Rain on .......

Step 10 :
Determine the attenuation to be
exceeded for other percentages of an
average year in the range 0.001% ~ 10%
Results
The rain attenuation (in dB) is calculated using
the rainfall data in MATLAB 7.3 and the results
are shown in the table 3(a)-3(c)
2005
Jan

5.78E-08

2006
0

2007
0

2008

2009

2.66E-06

Feb

7.52E-06

4.37E-06

8.35E-06

1.11E-06

2.31E-06

Mar

2.60E-05

4.24E-07

4.64E-06

1.12E-05

8.83E-06

Apr

1.24E-05

1.19E-05

2.67E-05

5.51E-06

1.74E-05

May

2.67E-05

1.87E-05

2.30E-05

1.74E-05

1.49E-05

Jun

2.83E-05

4.30E-05

3.15E-05

2.87E-05

3.42E-05

Jul

3.75E-05

3.33E-05

2.71E-05

3.66E-05

3.09E-05

Aug

3.06E-05

1.63E-05

3.05E-05

4.78E-05

3.74E-05

Sep

1.87E-05

1.16E-05

3.11E-05

3.17E-05

1.91E-05

Oct

1.18E-05

4.26E-06

3.02E-05

1.71E-05

7.41E-06

Nov

8.17E-07

2.66E-06

5.35E-06

3.43E-06

Dec

3.93E-07

5.78E-08

9.55E-08

3.41E-07

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Jan

1.67E-08

2.44E-07

Feb

2.34E-06

3.19E-06

5.65E-06

5.95E-07

Mar

3.81E-05

1.72E-06

3.42E-06

8.19E-06

2.01E-06

Apr

1.65E-05

1.95E-05

3.17E-05

7.57E-06

7.27E-06

May

4.05E-05

3.81E-05

2.39E-05

1.75E-05

7.76E-06

Jun

2.60E-05

8.30E-05

4.72E-05

1.96E-05

3.99E-05

Jul

7.17E-05

2.49E-05

3.42E-05

2.17E-05

3.17E-05

Aug

3.58E-05

1.72E-05

2.94E-05

2.30E-05

3.63E-05

Sep

2.00E-05

1.99E-05

4.09E-05

6.89E-06

2.01E-05

Oct

1.93E-05

4.92E-06

1.18E-05

7.50E-06

1.28E-05

Nov

0 6.92E-06

1.08E-06

Dec

Table 3(c): Rain attenuation of Karimganj

The figure 2(a)-2(l) shows the five years of rain
attenuation of the different places of North East India.

Table 3(a): Rain attenuation of Cachar (Silchar)

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Jan

1.67E-08

2.20E-06

Feb

4.39E-06

1.96E-06

9.41E-06

9.59E-07

2.67E-07

Mar

2.37E-05

1.43E-07

5.03E-06

7.13E-06

5.78E-06

Apr

1.30E-05

1.33E-05

2.56E-05

5.24E-06

7.86E-06

May

3.27E-05

2.71E-05

2.18E-05

1.46E-05

9.86E-06

Jun

2.13E-05

4.35E-05

3.68E-05

2.39E-05

9.22E-06

Jul

3.92E-05

2.43E-05

2.12E-05

2.73E-05

1.25E-05

Aug

2.50E-05

1.92E-05

2.76E-05

4.29E-05

1.28E-05

Sep

1.74E-05

1.26E-05

3.32E-05

1.80E-05

2.03E-05

Oct

1.02E-05

1.20E-05

1.57E-05

1.99E-05

5.24E-06

Nov

7.42E-07

5.33E-06

8.47E-07

Dec

1.32E-07

Figure 2(a): Rain Attenuation of Cachar

Figure 2(b): Rain Attenuation of Hailakandi

Table 3(b): Rain attenuation of Hailakandi

Figure 3(c): Rain Attenuation of Karimganj

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Propagation Study during Rain on .......

Figure 3(d): Rain Attenuation of Dispur

Figure 3(h): Rain Attenuation of Aizawl

Figure 3(e): Rain Attenuation of North Tripura

Figure 3(i): Rain Attenuation of Imphal

Figure 3(f): Rain Attenuation of Agartala

Figure 3(j): Rain Attenuation of Kohima

Figure 3(g): Rain Attenuation of Shillong

Figure 3(k): Rain Attenuation of Itanagar

- 142 -

Propagation Study during Rain on .......

the frequency range of 1-2 GHz. The attenuation

found during the evaluation process is very
minimal. The attenuations found in different rain
rate percentages are very useful for designing any
communication network service in NE Indian
regions.
Acknowledgement

Figure 3(l): Rain Attenuation of Gangtok

Conclusion
The rain attenuation is higher in higher frequencies
above 1 GHz. The present system is running in

The authors are grateful to the Head of the

Department of Computer Science, Dean of the
School of Physical Sciences and Honble ViceChancellor, Assam University, for providing the
facilities to accomplish the present research work.
The authors are also grateful to IMD for providing
the sample data.

References
J. Schiller (2003), Signal propagation-additional signal
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other propagation impairment along Earth-Satellite
paths, IEEE Trans. on Antenna and Prop., vol. 45, no.
10, pp. 1546-1558.
L. J. Ippolito (1981), Radio propagation for Space
Communication Systems, Proc. of IEEE, vol. 69, no. 6,
pp. 697-727.
R. K. Crane (1980), Prediction of attenuation by rain,
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