In ideal conditions, with a clear LOS, a cell tower signal can reach distances of up to 45 miles (72 kilometers). The frequency and power of the signal also play a crucial role in determining its distance. Cell towers operate on specific frequency bands, such as GSM, CDMA, or LTE. Mobile base stations perform several essential functions in a wireless network: Radio coverage: Provide wide-area radio coverage so user devices can communicate within the service area. Cellular networks are designed to support many conversations with a limited number of radio. Base station (or base radio station, BS) is – according to the International Telecommunication Union 's (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR) – a " land station in the land mobile service. " A base station is called node B in 3G, eNB in LTE (4G), and gNB in 5G. It usually connects the device to other networks or devices through a dedicated high bandwidth wire of fiber optic connection.
