Mobile Networks

Explained
Explained Series – Wireless Technology and Health Issue Date – July 2008

Radio frequency channel allocation

Overview
Each base station has a number of radio channels,
Mobile phones work by sending and receiving low power radio or frequencies, to communicate with mobile phones.
signals. The signals are sent to and received from antennas Because this number of frequencies is limited,
that are attached to radio transmitters and receivers, commonly frequencies are often reused in adjoining cells. This is
achieved by reducing the power level of the base
referred to as mobile phone base stations. The base stations
station to ensure that there is minimal or no overlap
are linked to the rest of the mobile and fixed phone networks of the coverage between cells.
and pass the signal/call on into those networks.

How does it work if I am

What happens when I make a call from moving around?
my mobile phone?
Calls can be transferred from one base station to
The first step in the process is for the phone to check that there is coverage another. As you move out of the cell, the phone will
in the area that the call is made. Once the phone has verified that there is automatically look for signal from an adjoining base
sufficient signal strength to make the call, the phone establishes a station. There is usually a smooth transition or
connection with a nearby mobile phone base station. This base station then ‘handover’ from cell to cell. During the duration of a
establishes the call and holds the call as long as the phone user remains on call, the phone may have handed over to and from a
the call and in the range of that base station. It is also increasingly used for number of base stations. If there is no adjoining base
communication between consumer electronic devices such as televisions, station, such as on the fringes of the mobile phone
DVD players, digital cameras and mobile phones. network, the call will drop out.

Topography and physical

What is a mobile phone base station? constraints
A mobile phone base station provides coverage to a geographic area known
as a “cell”. Cells are aligned next to each other in a similar pattern to a In essence, a mobile phone needs to have ‘sight’
honeycomb, and it is for this reason that mobile phone networks are of a mobile phone base station. In other words,
sometimes referred to as “cellular” networks. the radio signal from the phone to the base station
The location of the base station within the cell is determined by a number of needs to be uninterrupted. Hills, trees and tall
factors, including topography and other physical constraints such as trees buildings can obscure this line of sight and so
and buildings, the cell ‘capacity’ or number of calls expected to be made in base stations need to be very carefully located to
the cell, and the radio frequency at which the base station will operate. maximise the coverage available.

NETWORK COVERAGE EXAMPLE

BASE
STATION

SUBURBAN INDUSTRIAL CITY

CITY
HEAVY USAGE==
HEAVY USAGE
MORE ANTENNAS
MORE ANTENNAS
INDICATIVE ILLUSTRATION ONLY

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Mobile Networks
Explained
Explained Series – Wireless Technology and Health Issue Date – July 2008

CALL TRANSFER PATH

TRANSFER TO ANYWHERE
IN THE WORLD

ANTENNA

EXCHANGE

BASE STATION MOBILE PHONE

MOBILE PHONE

FIXED LANDLINE
INDICATIVE ILLUSTRATION ONLY

What does a base station do? What are 2G and 3G networks?

A base station connects the call in to the fixed line network. Depending on the 3G, or third generation networks, operate in a
type of call, it will be directed to either another mobile phone or to a fixed line different way to 2G networks. When a call is made
phone. A base station is made up of antennas connected by cable to electronic on 2G, a line is held open for the user’s conversation
(radio) equipment usually housed in a room or ‘shelter’. Some base stations throughout the duration of the call. With 3G
have radio communications dishes (shaped like a drum) that connect the base networks, the data sent across them is divided up
station to the rest of the base station network. into little ‘data packets’ which are reassembled in
the correct order at the receiving end. This smart
encoding means more data can be sent and it is
sent more efficiently. In addition, 3G handsets can
Mobile Network Cell capacity be in contact with more than one base station at a
time and this provides improved performances in
Each base station can only carry a finite number of calls. In areas of high voice quality and data rates. Some people call 3G
mobile phone use, such as central business districts and high density areas, “mobile broadband” because the evolution is similar
more base stations are required to handle the level of call traffic. In high use to the difference between dial up internet and the
areas, there are often a range of base stations, from very specific in-building always available broadband internet services.
solutions (designed to give quality coverage within a specific building), to very
small base stations known as ‘microcells’. Microcells cover a small geographic
area and are often found at intersections and in heavy pedestrian traffic areas.
In rural areas, or areas where mobile phone use is not as high, base stations
will often be located on hills or tall structures to maximise the coverage area.

Current WHO advice The World Health Organisation advises “Considering the very low exposure levels and
research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the
http://www.who.int/peh-emf/en/ weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.”

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