Home The Supposedly Superfast pCell Network Gets Its First Big Test In San Francisco

The Supposedly Superfast pCell Network Gets Its First Big Test In San Francisco

Steve Perlman’s startup Artemis is finally going to try and prove it can build a better, faster wireless network in tech-centric San Francisco. The project will be the first large-scale test of a potentially transformative—yet so far almost entirely hypothetical—technology Artemis calls pCell.

See also: 5 Things To Know About pCell, A Bold Scheme For Superfast Data

If Artemis can make good on its claims, it could upend the wireless industry as we know it. If not—well, it’ll have a hard time explaining away its failure.

I Left My Signal in San Francisco

According to the Artemis announcement, Dish Network will lease a portion of its mobile spectrum in San Francisco, which the satellite TV provider purchased at auction last year. Over the next two years, Artemis will deploy pCell transmitters around the city, creating a new next-generation network designed to provide a “leapfrog in spectral efficiency,” as the company’s latest white paper says.

Artemis says many existing cellphones will be able to tap into the new network just by swapping in Artemis SIM cards, including the latest batch of iPhones and most new Android handsets. Of course, it hasn’t yet said anything about how much it (or Dish) will charge for such a network, or how its users will be able to stay connected outside of San Francisco.

Artemis claims its pCell network takes advantage of signal interference. 

We first heard about Artemis and its vaunted pCell wireless technology about a year ago. The company says that its system differs from traditional cellular networks by exploiting the interference that comes when a large number of signals collide, rather than trying to minimize it.

Normally, such interference leads to cellular dead zones. Artemis, however, says its transmitters will combine “interfering radio waves to create an unshared personal cell (a ‘pCell’) for each LTE device, providing the full wireless capacity to each user at once, even at extremely high user density” (emphasis in the original).

So far, pCell tests have been successful during indoor, highly controlled tests. Whether or not pCell can succeed in the real world remains to be seen.

Fool Me Once 


Artemis’s founder and CEO Steve Perlman is making some pretty bold claims with pCell, and you could be forgiven for viewing them skeptically. After all, Perlman’s previous ventures haven’t exactly worked out according to plan: He founded WebTV back in 1995, and later created the online game streaming service OnLive in 2003. Both companies turned out to be flops, with OnLive experiencing a spectacular flameout in 2012.

Artemis founder and CEO Steve Perlman

But while Perlman’s startup track record may be less than stellar, both Internet-based television and cloud-based game streaming are huge today. You could look at WebTV and OnLive as ventures that were simply way ahead of their time.

That said, at the time Perlman made promises of technological viability that neither business could keep. Now we’ll get to see if Artemis and pCell continues that pattern—or makes a radical new break with it.

Images courtesy of Artemis

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest iGaming headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Gambling News

    Explore the latest in online gambling with our curated updates. We cut through the noise to deliver concise, relevant insights, keeping you informed about the ever-changing world of iGaming and its most important trends.

    In-Depth Strategy Guides

    Elevate your game with tailored strategies for sports betting, table games, slots, and poker. Learn how to maximize bonuses, refine your tactics, and boost your chances to beat the house.

    Unbiased Expert Reviews

    Honest and transparent reviews of sportsbooks, casinos and poker rooms crafted through industry expertise and in-depth analysis. Delve into intricacies, get the best bonus deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guides.