Mobile phone networks use radio waves and electromagnetic fields to transmit signals between mobile devices and base stations. Base stations are needed across a coverage area so that a large number of calls can be transmitted simultaneously. As more users join mobile networks, operators must use radio frequencies efficiently to support higher user capacities.

1. How mobile phone networks work?By sandipbanwait

2. RadiocommunicationFirst radio transmission made in 1895 (Marconi)After this radio was used on a everyday basisNow its estimated that more than 60% of the UK population use mobile phones

3. What is a radio wave?Mobiles & their base signals gain and give out signals by using electromagnetic fieldsAll electromagnetic radiation involves of changing the electric & magnetic fields & the frequencyMost radios have a frequency range, e.g. AM radio has a frequency between 180khz and 1.6mhz, FM radio ranges from 88 to 108mhz

4. How radio communicators work?Radio frequency used for radio communication is known as a carrier waveThis is produced by a transmitter, which sends little information as its repeatedIf more information is sent then another process called modulation is usedThis process includes a feature of the carrier wave to be different in agreement with the info being sent

5. Base StationsMany of these are required so that it can hold a higher and stronger quality transmitted signalIf there was just the one base station then that would only allow a limited amount of calls that would be transmitted at one timeTo help the slow increasing users, other network operators need to use a limited number of radio frequencies so that there could be a higher support for the amount of mobile phone users

6. BibliographyLinking Example (2000) Image of how radio communicators work. Available at: http://panhandleares.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/LinkingExample.gif (Accessed 25/01/2011)Mobile Evolution (2011) Image of mobile phones. Available at: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/mobile-phone/img/mobile-evolution.gif(Accessed 25/01/2011)Public Telecommunication Networks Unit (2001) How mobile phone networks work (WWW) Ofcom. Available at: http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/mobilework.htm (Accessed 25/01/2011)