Google and Apple Would Make Cell Service Better By Bidding

Re:Google and Apple Would Make Cell Service Better By Bidding by YokoZar on Thursday October 08, 2015 @10:53PM (#10357884)

I always did think it a bit odd that I can't just create an "Open Cell Tower" the way I might make an open wifi access point. This is true even if I have the resources and property rights to build such a thing - say, to make sure cell service works for everyone on my private island venue. Instead I have to contract with each cell service provider visitors might use.

That seems wrong. Independent organizations should be able to contribute the the cell infrastructure, be they companies that need service or local governments just wanting to make cell phones work without giving a handout to one particular carrier.

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Re:Google and Apple Would Make Cell Service Better By Bidding by grecy on Friday October 09, 2015 @01:44AM (#10358376)

Can someone with knowledge please explain why an entity can't create an "Open Cell Tower" as YokoZar says?

(Genuine question)

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Re:Google and Apple Would Make Cell Service Better By Bidding by jauer on Friday October 09, 2015 @02:58AM (#10358551)

Radio spectrum is "owned" by the federal government and leased or sold to private entities at auction. While you can use ISM/UNII bands ("free"/open) spectrum (and there are GSM base stations that run in 900Mhz), you have to deal with interference from every other device in the band. Cell systems are designed to generally not interfere with each other through RF planning and synchronization of TX/RX timeslots. They don't work well in the face of outside noise.

Now, in areas where cell providers don't see ROI on a physical build they will sublease spectrum to a local operator in exchange for roaming rights (sometimes transparently--you might not see "roaming" on your phone). Verizon and AT&T do this in chunks of the midwest.

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