topWhat is a cell site and how does it work?
A wireless network operates on a grid that s divided into geographic areas or cells. Within each geographic cell is a wireless facility or cell site that contains low-powered radio equipment required to send and receive calls. A cell site uses transmitters and receivers, connected to antennas, to provide service within its coverage area. Ideally, the areas covered by each cell site overlap, so calls pass seamlessly from one cell site to another as a caller moves around. When you make a call, your mobile phone sends your voice or information via radio signals to the cell site serving your area. Your call then goes to a central facility, called a switch, that identifies the destination for your call and forwards it via the public telephone network, the same infrastructure landline calls use. Your call will go directly to a landline phone or if it s headed to another mobile phone, it will travel to another switch, a cell site, and then be delivered via radio signal.
