What does cellular network mean

A cellular network is a mobile communications hardware architecture, also known as a cellular network.

It derives its name from its physical structure, in which the signal coverage of each communication base station covered by the network is in the shape of a hexagon, thus making the entire network resemble a honeycomb. A cellular network consists of a number of small areas, each covered with a base station that can provide wireless communication services.

These base stations are connected to the Internet or other network centers either wired or wirelessly, creating an overall communication network. Cellular networks were initially used in cell phone communication systems and are now widely used in various wireless communication fields such as mobile communications, satellite communications, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Cellular networks can realize high-speed and reliable data transmission and have a wide coverage area, which can support a large number of users to access at the same time. In the modern communication field, cellular network has become an important communication technology. It has a wide range of applications, not only for cell phone communication, but also for data transmission, remote control, smart home and other fields.

Disadvantages of cellular network:

1. Slower transmission speed: Compared with WLAN, the transmission speed of cellular network is slower. Although recent 4G and 5G technologies offer faster speeds, they still don't reach the speeds of wired networks or high-speed WLANs. This can become significant when downloading large files or streaming video.

2. Higher cost: Cellular networks typically cost more to connect to than WLANs. Users will need to purchase a cell phone or other device, as well as pay a monthly fee for a data plan. For some users, this can be a significant burden.

3. Higher latency: Cellular networks typically have higher latency, which can be detrimental to certain real-time applications. Because data needs to be transmitted through different network devices and servers, the transfer time between the user's end and the server may be longer.

4. High construction costs: Cellular networks require a large number of base stations and equipment to build network coverage, and a large number of fiber optic cables and cables need to be laid. These equipment and resources are very expensive to purchase and maintain. In addition, the construction of cellular systems requires a lot of time and human resources because the construction of base stations requires a lot of human and material input.

5. Limited communication capacity in high-density areas: In densely populated urban areas, a large number of users using cellular phones at the same time can lead to network congestion, unstable signal coverage and degraded communication quality. This is due to the limited capacity of the cellular network, which is unable to meet the needs of a large number of users to communicate at the same time.

Refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Cellular Networks for the above