Build a Mobile Network Infographic
How do calls reach your mobile phone in a fraction of a second? Build a mobile network infographic. Learn what each part does.
Quick Start Guide: 1. Tap on the ‘Core network’. 2. Tap on the network diagram, to put in place the ‘Core network’. 3. Add each remaining component in the correct sequence. You can also drag and drop components into place. Select components to display an information panel (visible on larger screens).
How to build
Guided Mode: Walks you through assembly one step at a time, telling you exactly which component to place next. Follow the steps below to get started.
- Read the step prompt.
At the top of the demo a banner shows which component to place. For example, “Step 1 of 7: Place the Core Network”. The card for that component also glows gently in the sidebar on the left. - Place the component.
There are three ways to do this, depending on your device:- Mouse (desktop): Click and drag the glowing card from the sidebar and drop it onto the network diagram.
- Touchscreen (tablet or phone): Tap the glowing card to select it. A dot appears on the card and a prompt reads “Tap the network diagram to place”. Then tap anywhere on the diagram to place it.
- Keyboard: Use Tab or the ↑ ↓ arrow keys to move between cards, then press Enter or Space to place the selected component.
- Read about what you just placed.
Click or tap the component in the diagram to open its information in the panel on the right (or below the diagram on smaller screens). Each component has an About section explaining what it is, a Function section explaining how it works, and a summary line. - Continue until the network is complete.
Work through all seven components in order. The progress bar at the bottom tracks your progress. When the final component is placed, a completion message appears. - Explore further or start again.
Choose Continue Exploring to click through the diagram and read about each element at your own pace, or Build Again to reset the demo and start from scratch. You can also press the Reset button in the top bar at any time.
The infographic will let you know if you try to place a component out of order, with a gentle shake and a hint about which one to place next. Press Reset at any time to start fresh.
The seven components: In assembly order
The network is assembled from the inside out, starting with the central systems and working outward to the device in your hand. Here is a brief introduction to each element before you begin.
| # | Component | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Core Network | The central system: A cluster of servers that routes every call and data session, connects to the internet, and keeps the whole network running. |
| 2 | Databases & Control | The network’s memory: Stores subscriber profiles, authentication keys, and tracks where every device is located at any given moment. |
| 3 | Switching Systems | The crossroads: Directs voice calls and data flows to their correct destinations across the network and out to other networks. |
| 4 | Backhaul Network | The invisible highway: Fibre cables and microwave links that carry aggregated traffic between cell towers and the core. |
| 5 | Base Station | The cell tower: Transmits and receives radio signals across its coverage area, managing connections to every device within range. |
| 6 | Radio Spectrum | The wireless medium: The licensed radio frequencies that carry digital signals through the air between tower and handset. |
| 7 | Mobile Phone | The endpoint: The device in your pocket that initiates calls, negotiates with the network, and makes the whole system meaningful. |
How a call travels through the network
The diagram is laid out left to right in the order that a signal travels, from the device on the far left, through the air, up the tower, along the backhaul, through the switching systems and databases, and into the core network on the far right. During a call the signal makes this journey in milliseconds.
As you assemble the network, watch how each new component slots into the picture and completes another stage of that journey.
📱 Mobile Phone
→
📡 Radio Spectrum
→
🗼 Base Station
→
🔗 Backhaul Network
→
⚙️ Switching Systems
→
🗄️ Databases & Control
→
🖥️ Core Network
Ready? Build the network!
Start with the Core Network. It is highlighted and waiting for you in the sidebar. Work outward, one component at a time, until the full network is assembled.