User guide

6
Understanding Cellular Service
Understanding Cellular Service
CELLULAR SERVICE
Cellular service gets its name from the fact that the service
area is divided into ‘cells’. At the centre of each cell is a
cell site, where the radio receiver and transmitter are located.
The different cell sites are connected by a Mobile Telephone
Switching Office (MTSO), which also connects cellular service
with landline service.
SaskTel has an extensive cellular network in Saskatchewan,
serving over 96% of the provincial population. The
network is comprised of analog, digital, 1xRTT and
EV-DO Rev A coverage.
Analog
Analog technology transmits an electronic copy of the sound
waves generated by your voice and transmits it over a radio
frequency. Atmospheric conditions and physical obstacles can
distort these waves. The technology SaskTel uses to deliver
analog service is called AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone
Service). AMPS is used by all analog phone networks in North
America. Please note that some carriers in Canada and the
United States have retired their analog networks. As a result
of these changes your analog phone may no longer work in
some areas.
Digital
Digital cellular service uses digital technology to encode and
compress radio signals. Digital code is much less likely to be
corrupted by interference. SaskTel uses CDMA (Code Division
Multiple Access) technology to deliver digital cellular service.
The main benefits of digital cellular service over analog
cellular service are:
•
Longer battery life.
•
Increased call clarity (the conversion to digital code stops
static and interference).
•
Greater privacy and security through digital encryption.
•
Enhanced services such as Mobile Browser
™
service and
Text Messaging service. See ‘Enhanced Features’.
To access digital coverage areas, you need a digital cellular
phone. If digital service is unavailable or as you travel from
a digital area to an analog-only area, your phone will
automatically switch from digital to analog.
Because digital cellular service is a superior technology, SaskTel
will continue to expand digital coverage on the network.