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To: Paul Smith who wrote (6436)	5/29/1998 3:00:00 PM
From: Arnie Doolittle	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10227

"Nextel 12ish, cellular 25, PCS 30" Paul, correction: NXTL has 15 where it counts - the top 50 markets. If the FCC approves the 5 held privately by utilities, that will go to 20 in markets where NXTL can successfully negotiate a deal. Arnie

To: Paul Smith who wrote (6436)	5/29/1998 11:06:00 PM
From: wonk	Respond to of 10227

Paul: Please explain the frequency reuse factor concept. Except for CDMA (another time), you cannot use the same voice channel at adjacent and overlapping cell sites. Visualize it as follows. For simplicity, draw a square. Using a compass, draw four circles at the corners of the square so that the circles slightly overlap. (cellular actually uses hexagons, looks like a honeycomb). Assuming we had 100 channels, we could use 25 channels in each cell if the frequency reuse factor is 4. (I'm treating the frequency reuse the same as the "repeat plan" which is not totally correct). You cannot use all the channels in each cell since were the cells overlap the transmissions would interfere with each other so badly, the conversation would be wiped out. Therefore, with a frequency reuse factor of 4 (a 4 cell repeat plan) you need at least one cell between cells which operate with the same frequencies. Can't they all split cells? Yes the cellular concept is premised on splitting cells when you run out of voice channels at a cell. However, using the above example, you could get 25 channels per cell with a 4 cell plan and only 15 or so with a 7 cell plan. So the carrier who has to run a 7 cell plan must cell split sooner. (more capital expenditures, more operating cost, more maintenance, etc.) Don't we now have to take your equation and multiple by the number of 1000 MHz the carriers have (Nextel 12ish, cellular 25, PCS 30)? Basically yes, but it is far more complex than this simple comparison and I would caution you against presuming a competitive advantage due to these "back of the napkin" numbers. There truly has been a "religious war" in the wireless industry in the past 8-10 years about the merits of competing digital systems. You don't get something for nothing. ww