Mobile phones use microwaves instead of radio waves because of their ability to carry more information and transmit data over shorter distances. Here's why microwaves are preferred over radio waves for mobile communication:
Higher frequency and bandwidth: Microwaves have higher frequencies than traditional radio waves. Higher frequencies allow for a larger amount of data to be transmitted in a given amount of time, providing better data transfer rates. This is crucial for modern mobile phones that handle data-intensive applications like video streaming, online gaming, and large file downloads.
Spectrum availability: The radio frequency spectrum is a limited and valuable resource. Microwaves occupy a higher frequency band than traditional radio waves, and by using microwaves, mobile phone networks can make use of a part of the spectrum that might not be as crowded as lower frequency bands. This helps reduce interference and enhances the overall network performance.
Antenna size and efficiency: The size of an antenna is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the signal it operates with. Since microwaves have shorter wavelengths compared to radio waves, mobile phone antennas can be smaller and more compact, making them suitable for portable devices like smartphones.
Directivity and focus: Microwaves can be focused more effectively than radio waves due to their shorter wavelengths. This allows mobile phone networks to use directional antennas, which concentrate the signal in specific directions, improving efficiency and reducing interference.
Signal propagation: Microwaves experience less diffraction and can follow a more direct line of sight, which can improve signal strength and reliability in densely populated urban areas with numerous obstacles.
It's important to note that the terms "microwaves" and "radio waves" are not mutually exclusive but rather represent different frequency bands within the electromagnetic spectrum. Both microwaves and radio waves are used in various applications, including mobile communication, but for mobile phones, microwaves are preferred due to their advantages in data capacity and transmission efficiency.