Rain Effect on 4G LTE In-Car Electromagnetic Propagation Analyzed Through MDT Radio Data Measurement Reported by Mobile Phones

Mobile networks’ evolution is strictly related to connected cars evolution, making in-car propagation modeling and analysis key enablers in the forthcoming telecommunication competition scenario. The recent availability of mobile device power measurements enriched by GPS position, the so-called 3GPP minimization of drive test (MDT) feature, nowadays, empowers new approaches to propagation studies targeting mobile service and quality improvements. The novelty of the research presented in this article is the use of a huge quantity of MDT geolocated radio measurements in a connected state (more than 370 million during the three-day MDT campaign) along 187 km of Italian A22 Motorway, part of the planned Munich-Bologna EU cross-border corridors for connected and automated mobility (CAM). In particular, MDT measurements of LTE received signal received power (RSRP) are compared between rain and dry road situations, showing how wet environments reshape electromagnetic propagation, even for LTE frequency bands (below 3 GHz) that have line-of-sight propagation marginally influenced by rain. Explanations of measured effects and simulations are presented. The rain effect on cellular propagation should be carefully considered in the perspective of connected car evolution, specifically considering new worldwide available 5G bands, more affected by rain situations, and autonomous driving scenarios.