RIDGELAND, Miss.-MobileComm said it completed the conversion of its Mississippi system to the company’s new 900 MHz nationwide network, which uses direct satellite control and Motorola Inc.’s FLEX technology.
The concept was developed by MobileComm engineers with equipment from multiple manufacturers, including Glenayre Electronics Inc., MobileComm said. The system was integrated by AvData, an Atlanta-based firm that provides communications networks for financial, retail, distribution and other industries. The satellites are operated by Hughes Network Systems Inc. and GTE Corp.
Network construction is targeted to be completed by the end of the year. MobileComm said it expects to save more than $10 million in network infrastructure costs because the need for encoding in local markets will be eliminated. The MobileComm system communicates directly via satellite to more than 1,000 Glenayre paging transmitters, a paging control system and integrated satellite receivers.
“This system will give MobileComm the capability to substantially expand the scope and reach of our paging services,” said Mark Witsaman, vice president of engineering and technology at MobileComm.
MobileComm, which is owned by BellSouth Corp., is scheduled to be acquired by MobileMedia Corp. early next year. The transaction, which would be the largest in the history of paging, is valued at $945 million.
