Evaluation of the Efficiency of the distribution of Mobile Phone Network Stations in the City of Khobar: A Study in the Geography of Communications

Abstract

The study aimed to conduct a spatial analysis of the distribution of mobile phone stations in the city of Khobar, focusing on the neighborhoods of Khobar using GIS, specifically the ARCMAP 10.7 software, to analyze geographic distribution and pattern measurements. It also addresses Nearest Neighbor Analysis and spatial proximity metrics to identify distribution patterns of the 444 towers belonging to Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain in Khobar. The study concluded that a clustered pattern predominates, with a value of 0.630658, indicating proximity in distribution, although in an irregular form. The Nearest Neighbor Analysis for mobile phone station density in Khobar revealed a high spatial concentration in the center of the study area, a medium concentration in the center and north, and a low concentration in most residential neighborhoods in the south.

The main finding of the study is the inefficiency in the distribution of towers within the neighborhoods. The study recommended revisiting the spatial distribution structure of communication towers in the neighborhoods according to planning standards to ensure a balance between tower distribution, neighborhood area, and population.