Assessment of Mobile Network Coverage and Signal Quality in Rural Communities of Borno State

Mobile network coverage in rural areas of Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone remains critically inadequate despite the rapid expansion of telecommunications infrastructure across urban centers. This study assesses mobile network coverage and signal quality in selected rural communities of Borno State, examining the gap between urban and rural telecommunications access. Field measurements of received signal strength indicator values, call drop rates, and data throughput were collected across twenty communities in three local government areas using calibrated measurement tools and drive test methodology. Data were gathered from the four major network operators active in the region: MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile. Results indicate that average signal strength in rural Borno communities falls significantly below the minimum threshold recommended by the Nigerian Communications Commission, with over 61% of measurement points recording inadequate signal for reliable voice calls. Data connectivity was unavailable in 38% of surveyed communities. Seasonal weather patterns and the effects of residual insecurity-related infrastructure damage were identified as compounding factors. The study proposes targeted investment in base transceiver station deployment, community-based passive infrastructure sharing agreements, and policy-driven universal service fund allocation for the North East zone. Findings contribute to the understanding of the rural-urban digital divide in conflict-affected regions of Nigeria and provide a baseline for future longitudinal coverage monitoring. Keywords: mobile network coverage, rural connectivity, signal quality, Borno State, digital divide.