Answer
Dec 15, 2020 - 05:00 AM
From 2004 to 2020, the number of cell sites has doubled from 175,000 to 350,000 (or more). Simultaneously, the capacity of each individual site has significantly increased, meaning that sites can handle more calls and more data. However, at the same time, wireless service providers have also experienced exponential growth in data usage- between 30% and 60% year over year growth in the amount of data being used by consumers. So as the capability and capacity of networks increased, the demands increased as well. Further to meet these demands, wireless providers are using more spectrum and frequency bands to provide these services. The lower the frequency, the farther it travels. The higher the frequency, the better it is for data but the worse it is for distance. As the providers try to balance data demands and coverage, they end up sacrificing one or the other sometimes. Meaning that a network that was built for coverage may not be fast while a network built for data may suffer coverage gaps.
Fortunately though on an overall basis, "holes" in the networks have dropped significantly due to the increase in the number of cell sites and the advent of small cells. Nowadays, most areas where consumers use phones are covered well. However, dropped calls can be caused by a lack of capacity on the network or by driving in an area where there isn't coverage. The former is worked on frequently by wireless carriers and has definitely improved a wide margin since 2004. On the latter, coverage gaps are rare in urban/suburban areas and are normally due to zoning restrictions or other issues that prevent the carriers from deploying sites where they want to. In rural areas, the issue can be zoning but is more often related to there just not being a sound business case to deploy a new cell site. (not enough people)
For widely used tunnels, the issue is more of one that the owner of the tunnel won't allow wireless equipment in the tunnel or wants too much money to allow a carrier to install it.
Fortunately though on an overall basis, "holes" in the networks have dropped significantly due to the increase in the number of cell sites and the advent of small cells. Nowadays, most areas where consumers use phones are covered well. However, dropped calls can be caused by a lack of capacity on the network or by driving in an area where there isn't coverage. The former is worked on frequently by wireless carriers and has definitely improved a wide margin since 2004. On the latter, coverage gaps are rare in urban/suburban areas and are normally due to zoning restrictions or other issues that prevent the carriers from deploying sites where they want to. In rural areas, the issue can be zoning but is more often related to there just not being a sound business case to deploy a new cell site. (not enough people)
For widely used tunnels, the issue is more of one that the owner of the tunnel won't allow wireless equipment in the tunnel or wants too much money to allow a carrier to install it.
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