Database format
From OpenCellID wiki
Cells database:
The entire worldwide dataset of cell towers can be downloaded from http://opencellid.org/downloads
A valid e-mail address is required to register for an API key; this e-mail address will neither be sold nor be distributed to a third party.
- The file is updated on a daily basis - Each token will be able to download only twice per day - The database is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
Signup:
You can signup for a key at https://opencellid.org/
Columns present in database:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Radio | The generation of broadband cellular network technology (Eg. LTE, GSM) |
| MCC | Mobile country code. This info is publicly shared by International Telecommunication Union (link) |
| MNC | Mobile network code. This info is publicly shared by International Telecommunication Union (link) |
| LAC/TAC/NID | Location Area Code |
| CID | This is a unique number used to identify each Base transceiver station or sector of BTS |
| Longitude | Longitude, is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface |
| Longitude | Latitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the north–south position of a point on the Earth's surface. |
| Range | Approximate area within which the cell could be. (In meters) |
| Samples | Number of measures processed to get a particular data point |
| Changeable=1 | The location is determined by processing samples |
| Changeable=0 | The location is directly obtained from the telecom firm |
| Created | When a particular cell was first added to database (UNIX timestamp) |
| Updated | When a particular cell was last seen (UNIX timestamp) |
| AverageSignal | To get the positions of cells, OpenCelliD processes measurements from data contributors. Each measurement includes GPS location of device + Scanned cell identifier (MCC-MNC-LAC-CID) + Other device properties (Signal strength). In this process, signal strength of the device is averaged. Most ‘averageSignal’ values are 0 because OpenCelliD simply didn’t receive signal strength values. |
How to Open the Cells CSV:
The OpenCelliD cells database is available for download in the form of a ~900mb zipped file. On unzipping the file, the database comes down to a ~3.3 gb CSV. You’ll not be able to view/ work on this via excel as the file is too large for Microsoft Excel to handle. Microsoft Excel has an official limit of about 1 million rows. You have the following options:
- Use 'Data Tools' in Microsoft Excel. ('Data' Tab > 'Get Data')
- Use a programming language (Python, R, VBA etc..)
- Use a database (MS Access, SQL etc..)
- Use a software (reCsvEdit, CSV Viewer etc...) You can find a quick guide here
