Overview

Cellular networks were developed as a more efficient methodology for mobile communications. The early radio-telephone networks consisted of a limited number of radio frequencies that had to be shared among hundreds of subscribers. The network architecture was such that each of these frequencies provided coverage for many miles. This means only a limited number of subscribers can be supported at the same time, which is why radio telephones were never very popular. Users experienced long wait times before they could place calls. Cellular architecture resolved this problem by reengineering the network topology and the usage of frequencies.

If the coverage area is made smaller, and the frequencies divided into smaller geographic areas, more subscribers can be supported. The available frequencies can be reused in other cells, as long as the cells are not adjacent to one another. This allows networks to use the existing spectrum, reusing the same frequencies within their network.

This concept is known as frequency reuse. If the available frequency spectrum is divided into blocks of frequencies, those blocks can then be allocated into cells. Each cell then uses a different range of frequencies. If allocated properly, the same frequency would never be assigned to two adjacent cells, and there would be sufficient distance between cells with the same frequencies that they would not interfere with one another.

If the cells covered a small geographic area, the transceivers used would not require as much power. The less power used to transmit, the less interference with neighboring...