Making room for more cell phone towers

WILMINGTON — As we move towards 2020, we’ll be making room for more buildings, roads and other infrastructure. And in the 21st century that includes cell phone towers.

There are six cellular providers in our area. And nearly 270 cell phone towers in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties.

Towers are everywhere from isolated areas to rooftops of buildings.

US Cellular system engineer Jeff May says companies do what they can to optimize service from each tower. But as more and more people move to our area, more will have to be built to accommodate growing demand.

May said, “You basically have a pipe for water and every text message, every download, every voice call, takes a little stream of water and you can only fit so much in that one pipe.”

May says cellular customers are using their phones for more than just talking. Many use it to browse the internet or as a navigation system. He says this increased use demands even more tower power.