According to a recent article on Seeking Alpha, by Thurman Dunn, there is some reason for expecting better wireless data and voice in rural areas far from interstates. There is going to be another auction soon of low frequency/long wavelength electromagnetic spectrum:
But out in the sticks there aren't so many customers sucking on the same electromagnetic straw, all at the same time. So we care about 600 MHz, good-penetrating signals. I look forward to the improvement.
But things are going to change in 2016. The FCC is gathering up as much of the 600 MHz spectrum as it can get from TV owners (who largely no longer need it). This 600 MHz spectrum is shaping up to be the biggest thing in a long time, as far as cellular service providers go. It has the potential to completely rearrange the playing field in the telecommunications industry.Recall that frequency (MHz) times wavelength equals a constant, the speed of light. So low frequency means long wavelengths. These long wavelengths are not absorbed as easily as the short wavelengths. Visualize rocks, trees, walls (etc.) absorbing 50% of the signal strength per wavelength. So an obstacle would have to be twice as thick to absorb 50% when the wavelength is twice as long.
AT&T and Verizon dominated the 700 MHz allocation during the last major bid in 2008 (for spectrum below 1GHz),In contrast, urban hellhole customers need the high frequency/short wavelength spectrum because it can carry more data. Think of it as an interstate highway with six lanes in each direction. These can carry more traffic.
This could change in 2016. The 600 MHz auction will be, in the FCC's own words, the last major spectrum auction for quite some time.
But out in the sticks there aren't so many customers sucking on the same electromagnetic straw, all at the same time. So we care about 600 MHz, good-penetrating signals. I look forward to the improvement.
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