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This is the sort of thing that moves the world forward, but Facebook don't seem to have built a tower to test this. They seem to have used pre-existing towers a

This is the sort of thing that moves the world forward, but Facebook don't seem to have built a tower to test this. They seem to have used pre-existing towers and modelling. Telcos would have known this works but haven't done it because of why? Regulations on high towers? They don't want to be stuck managing these unique things? What's the catch. The solution is probably not technology but some sort of process issue that you need to actually get dirty to find out about and fix. Facebook needs to invest in building towers. Go do it in Africa. If it's profitable they wont lose money and if not they've tried something great.

Ekaros 6y ago
The ISPs and network manufacturers know all of this stuff. They likely already have superior modelling ready. It is just not profitable. The towers cost money, the equipment inside those towers cost money, the power to towers cost money, if not using radio-links the network to towers cost money, the core network in these rural areas cost money... And really you can get only so much money out from single tower. Considering how plan prices are fixed for cell services it could be that even over decades of time such installation won't pay itself back. If the service providers thought they could make money by offering service to area they would be doing it.