In our recent webinar, experts Kieran McCann, Megan Luisa White, and Greg Banecker provided a comprehensive overview of how to optimize telecommunications (telco) network planning using Mapbox Movement Data. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here.

The session kicked off with an introduction to Mapbox Movement Data and Mapbox Boundaries, delving into how each product is used in the telcommunication industry. The presenters highlighted the features that make Mapbox the premier solution for leading telecommunication companies, demonstrated Mapbox capabilities in a live demo, and concluded with an engaging Q&A session.

Overview of Mapbox Movement Data

The webinar began with an introduction to Mapbox Movement Data and Mapbox Boundaries. Derived from aggregated, anonymized data from 700 million monthly active users, Mapbox Movement Data provides a global snapshot of activity from footfall and vehicle movement between locations. This is particularly beneficial for telecommunications, as it enables understanding and response to network outages while aiding in long-term infrastructure planning.

Movement data is aggregated using the high-fidelity Mapbox Boundaries datasets to support analysis of movement trends at state, county, and district levels. Mapbox Boundaries provides detailed and accurate boundary data for political, statistical, state, county, city, and zip code areas worldwide, enabling comprehensive geospatial analysis and visualization. This service allows users to seamlessly integrate boundary data into maps and dashboards.

The importance of reliable coverage

Kieran McCann emphasized the critical importance of network reliability. Network outages significantly impact customer satisfaction and loyalty, with 44% of mobile operators experiencing more than 10 major outages per year, and 90% of businesses reporting lost sales or customers due to connectivity issues. Addressing these challenges with reliable coverage is essential for telecommunications companies to retain customers and minimize churn.

Use cases for Movement Data

Mapbox Movement Data offers powerful tools for optimizing telecommunications network planning. Using Movement datasets to  track vehicle density and measure road utilization reveals daily and seasonal traffic patterns, which can help predict emerging growth areas or travel corridors where expanded coverage may be needed. Analysis of trade areas and retail zones provides insights into daily movement patterns within key areas of interest or service locations, which can identify new hotspot opportunities and inform placement of marketing campaigns or infrastructure to improve network coverage.

Movement Data can also help reveal competitor insights, which are particularly valuable for telecommunications companies seeking to understand market trends and movement patterns across various demographics and user bases they might not currently reach. They can gain insights into markets where they are not yet competitive or considering future investments, aiding in long-term strategic planning.

Additionally, to prepare for or response to natural disasters, these data can help to predict areas that may require enhanced connectivity or are at risk of connectivity disruption, ensuring preparedness and resilience in network planning.

Live demo of Movement Data

Megan Luisa White presented a live demo showcasing the practical applications of Movement Data, visualized in a Mapbox GL JS interface.

The demo illustrated how Movement Data assists in prioritizing network maintenance and expansions based on real-time activity patterns, allowing telecom operators to make informed decisions about resource deployment and coverage enhancement.

Data privacy and aggregation

A significant advantage of Mapbox Movement Data is its strong focus on privacy. The data is aggregated into 100-meter grid tiles, ensuring no personal information is exposed. This data can be further aggregated into hexagon cells or geographic boundaries, providing insights at various levels of granularity.

Get started with Mapbox Movement Data

Mapbox Movement Data offers invaluable insights for optimizing telecommunications networks. By leveraging this data, telecom operators can improve coverage, respond to outages more efficiently, and make strategic long-term investments. Start utilizing Mapbox for free today.