Wireless segments post strong growth
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-The cellular, personal communications services and paging industries had strong growth in 1996, according to a study conducted by IDC/Link Resources. Cellular growth was higher than in most sectors. However, the company said there are signs the market’s expansion is continuing to slow.
There were nearly 42 million U.S. cellular subscribers at the end of last year, an increase of 34 percent compared with 1995. Cellular service is expected to grow by around 13 percent per year for the next five years, the study said.
“The market is far from saturated,” said Iain Gillott, director of Wireless and Broadband Networking at IDC/Link. “In the next few years, we expect the cellular carriers to pay far more attention to lower income households and those under 25 years of age. This is where the growth will come from.”
Paging’s subscriber base increased by 22 percent, the study said, down from a growth rate of 31 percent in 1995. IDC/Link counted just more than 34 million paging subscribers at the end of 1996.
The paging industry is marked by carrier consolidation, the study said, with nearly 80 percent of the paging subscriber base controlled by the top 10 carriers.
Comp Comm helps with registrations
VOORHEES, N.J.-Comp Comm Inc., a radio frequency engineering firm, said it will assist antenna owners and licensees complete their mandated registrations with the Federal Communications Commission.
The company said recently released federal regulations ask that owners of antenna structures notify the Federal Aviation Administration of the structures in order to register with the FCC.
“Based on the Report and Order it is incumbent upon every antenna structure owner to ensure full compliance with the new FCC antenna structure registration requirements,” said John Sieber, vice president of engineering for Comp Comm. “Even FCC licensees must be aware of these rules because, in certain instances, they may be liable for maintenance and registration of the structure.”
Two firms develop revenue system
SACRAMENTO, Calif.-AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and Quantum Wireless Solutions Inc. teamed to develop a revenue enhancement system.
Quantum originally designed the system to address a variety of issues troubling the wireless industry including prepaid services, the company said. AT&T Wireless became involved in the customizing process to address specific problems including how to provide service to subscribers who were turned down due to their credit history. In addition, AT&T Wireless wanted the system to minimize collection volume, bad debt and billing costs and reduce overall cost per gross addition, the company said.
The system works with prepaid cards whose values are determined by individual carriers. The prepaid product is targeted at credit-declined customers, budget conscious individuals and those who dislike annual contracts and monthly access charges.
AT&T said it will introduce the system in Sacramento, Calif., for a 120-day trial. The market includes Modesto, Stockton, Redding, Chico and Yuba City.
