Just like radio and television broadcasts, cell phone communication is made possible through the transmission and reception of radio waves. Wireless network carriers, such as AT&T, are only allowed to transmit on specific frequency bands in the radio frequency spectrum.
Background
AT&T and Cingular Wireless merged in December 2006. AT&T no longer uses the Cingular Wireless name.
Features
AT&T's wireless network service operates on the GSM, or Global System for Mobile Communications network, transmitting on the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands. GSM refers to the standard transmission protocol used by AT&T. Some other U.S. wireless network carriers, such as Verizon and Sprint, operate on the CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access, network.
Acquisition
The federally mandated switch to digital TV on June 12, 2009, made more room in the U.S. radio frequency spectrum. Some of the bands in the spectrum that were freed up the switch were auctioned off by the Federal Communications Commission. According to an AT&T press release in February 2008, AT&T purchased the right to use part of the radio frequency spectrum in the 700 MHz range, which was previously allocated for use by analog TV broadcasters.
Tags: frequency spectrum, radio frequency, radio frequency spectrum, carriers such, Cingular Wireless
