A cellular network is a wireless communication system in which a geographic area is divided into cells, each served by a base station, enabling mobile devices to connect and maintain service while moving. Frequency reuse across cells and handover between base stations allow large numbers of users to share limited radio spectrum. Successive generations such as 4G LTE and 5G have progressively increased capacity, throughput and latency performance.
Overview
- Coverage areas are divided into cells, each with a base station serving local devices.
- Frequency reuse lets non-adjacent cells share spectrum, increasing aggregate capacity.
- Handover transfers a device’s connection between cells as it moves, preserving continuity.
- Generational standards from 4G LTE to 5G raise data rates and reduce latency.
Key aspects
- Cellular architecture — A radio access network of base stations connects to a core network for routing and authentication.
- Frequency reuse — Careful spectrum planning across cells maximises capacity within limited bandwidth.
- Handover — Mobility management hands connections between cells to maintain service for moving users.
- Generations — Successive standards add capacity, throughput and latency improvements over predecessors.
Applications
- Mobile voice and broadband for smartphones and tablets.
- Connectivity for IoT and machine-to-machine devices at scale.
- Fixed-wireless access as an alternative to wired broadband.
- Low-latency services enabled by modern 5G deployments.