Análise da conectividade rural 4G na mesorregião Centro-Oriental do Paraná

Abstract

This work presents an analysis of 4G signal coverage in the Centro Oriental Paranaense mesoregion, with a focus on rural areas, aiming to identify connectivity gaps and propose improvements through infrastructure expansion. The motivation for the research stems from the relevance of digital connectivity to socioeconomic development, especially in the context of precision agriculture and digital inclusion in rural areas. The main objective was to compare the current 4G signal coverage provided by operators, based on data from Anatel, with a simulated proposal for the expansion of Radio Base Stations (ERBs), seeking to achieve a minimum coverage of 80% in each analyzed municipality. The methodology employed official data from Anatel, spatial processing using software such as QGIS and Google Earth, and simulations via the CloudRF API, allowing the creation of current and projected coverage maps for each city. The results showed that, with the addition of 375 new ERBs distributed among the 14 municipalities analyzed, it would be possible to raise the regional average coverage from 12.54% to 85.74%, representing an average increase of approximately 73.20% in areas with 4G signal. Municipalities such as Jaguariaíva, Telêmaco Borba, and Tibagi stood out with the highest coverage gains. The proposal demonstrates technical feasibility and a significant impact on rural connectivity. It is concluded that the strategic expansion of infrastructure is an effective alternative to overcome the signal deficit in agricultural areas, enabling the advancement of technologies in the field and digital access for remote populations. The study also opens space for future research with more specific scopes and practical validations in priority municipalities.