Smaller cell towers

internet speeds powerwave

As smartphone and tablet usage soars, the giant cell towers that mobile devices communicate with are getting overloaded. As a result, cell phone companies have begun to get behind the idea of "small cells" -- tiny antennas that you can hold in your hand.

Small cells make much more efficient use of carriers' increasingly precious wireless spectrum than traditional towers. The low-powered devices can cut back on interference, improve cell reception indoors and become Wi-Fi hotspots to offload traffic from cramped cellular networks. That means faster speeds for smartphone users.

First published April 7, 2014: 1:11 PM ET

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