Cellular

Cellular represents a wireless technology that allows smartphones to make calls, receive texts or browse the web. A smartphone, tablet, hotspot device or cellular router can convert cellular signal into Wi-Fi or ethernet to get laptops and other devices online - providing the data plan allows for the hotspot feature.

Cellular carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or Sprint) deploy equipment where they have customers to transmit a long range wireless signal, ranging from a mile to dozens of miles. They design their footprint so that there is overlap in their signal, creating 'cells' that make up their coverage map.