The physics limit is a misleading talking point that always comes up when justifying throttling and not providing what was promised. If physics were truly the limiting factor dense cities would have the worst data quality and rural areas the best. Instead cities have the best short of overwhelming events like tech conventions and disasters.

The cell footprints are adjustable. A localized network of smaller area cells can handle more people and data than one big tower which covers a broad area.

Reminds me of one Vice President of Verizon who visited and tried to bullshit classes of electrical and computer engineers about the end of unlimited data as a technical necessity. Competition intervened via I believe T-Mobile and suddenly it wasn't a problem although Wall Street got pissy about the decreased margins.