How Data TravelsCellular Networks
Why It's Called a Cell Phone
The land is divided into ‘cells’ that reuse the same radio frequencies
A city has only so many radio channels, yet thousands of people call at once. Where does all that room come from?
You'll find out
- Why one big tower wasn't enough
- Why the cells are hexagons
- How a call hops between towers
Why it matters
Every call and text on a mobile network rides on this trick: the same airwaves, reused cell after cell.
Play this lesson
Free to play in your browser or on iPhone