A cellular network or mobile network is a communication network where the last link is wireless. The network is distributed in terrestrial areas called cells, each of which has at least one fixed location transceiver, but more usually with three cellular stations or base transceiver stations. These base stations provide the cell with network coverage that can be used for voice, data and other transmission. Typically, a cell uses a different set of frequencies from neighboring cells to avoid interference and provide guaranteed quality of service within each cell.
When they join, these cells provide radio coverage over a wide geographical area. This allows a large number of portable transceivers (eg mobile phones, tablets and laptops equipped with mobile broadband modems, pagers, etc.) to communicate with each other and with transceivers and landlines anywhere on the network, to through base stations, even if some of the transceivers move through more than one cell during transmission.
Cellular networks offer a number of desirable features:
• More capacity than a single large transmitter, since the same frequency can be used for multiple links as long as they are in different cells
• Mobile devices use less power than with a single transmitter or satellite as cell towers are closer
• Coverage area larger than a single ground transmitter, as additional cell towers can be added indefinitely and are not limited by the horizon.
Major telecommunications providers have deployed cellular voice and data networks in most of Earth's inhabited land area. This allows mobile phones and mobile computing devices to connect to the public switched telephone network and the public Internet. Private cellular networks can be used for research or for large organizations and fleets, such as sending local public safety agencies or a taxi company.