Many think that a cellphone communicates with satellites orbiting the Earth. Not really.
Original Satellite Phones
Satellite phones do exist and early on, they set the tone for how some people perceive phones work. You only need a satellite phone if you are going to be away from cellular towers.
Phone to Phone
Let’s say I want to call my best friend Judy.
- My phone wirelessly contacts the closest cellular tower. In this case the tower on the left.
- That tower confirms to my phone that it received.
- The telephone network locates Judy’s phone.
- It determines which tower she’s closest to.
- My tower routes my call through the existing copper/fiber optic cables in the ground to the cellphone tower closest to her.
- That cellphone tower wirelessly connects my call to her.
It’s a bit more complicated than that, but this is essentially how it works.
