If you look at maps of the United States that depict the 1900 MHz coverage for the nation’s three primary digital standards, it appears each standard will cover a great deal of the country.
In the future, that is, because illustrations of coverage footprints are currently just that-a look into what the nation’s wireless network systems will look like.
Operators only now are beginning to build these networks. Even in cities with systems launched, coverage is incomplete.
Carriers with 800 MHz cellular systems also are only beginning to deploy digital in select markets.
If operators follow through on their technology choices and all networks are successfully built and launched, the United States will be blanketed-in some cases, end to end-with three distinct digital wireless technologies.
Maps of personal communications services coverage footprints now include all the blocks of 1900 MHz spectrum auctioned off by the U.S. government in the last three years, blocks A through F.
Visualize beneath those networks, large clusters of cellular digital systems.
The big three
Three standards will dominate: Code Division Multiple Access, Time Division Multiple Access and Global System for Mobile communications.
CDMA could be available just about everywhere in America. Of the 2,958 PCS licenses awarded nationwide, nearly 51 percent of the license holders have chosen CDMA, according to the CDMA Development Group.
Two major license holders already have launched a handful of CDMA systems, Sprint Spectrum L.P. and PrimeCo Personal Communications L.P., and deployment of CDMA networks is in progress in more than 180 cities in the North America, said the CDG.
The four companies that own PrimeCo also are rolling out CDMA service in their 800 MHz networks: AirTouch Communications Inc., U S West Inc., and Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile. That means a strong CDMA footprint out West and a tight CDMA footprint in the Eastern markets.
The coverage footprint of TDMA is smaller than that of CDMA but the plan for TDMA is heavily meshed with cellular through the marketing muscle of AT&T Wireless Services Inc. A dual-band phone that allows roaming between AT&T’s TDMA cellular network and 1900 MHz network is a critical part of AT&T’s design.
Other TDMA players include Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems and BellSouth Cellular Inc., which means TDMA coverage will be strong in the Southeast and Southwest. AT&T cellular is heavily entrenched in Washington state and throughout California.
Also, AT&T is contracting with small C-block operators to help them build TDMA 1900 MHz networks and, in some cases, allowing them to use the AT&T brand.
TDMA also will be used by operators such as Vanguard Cellular and PriCellular in the northeast.
GSM has not been chosen for digital cellular in the United States, but is operating at 1900 MHz. The U.S. standard PCS 1900 has been launched in 21 states, reaching 98.3 percent of the U.S. population, according to GSM North America. GSM technology began as a European standard.
“GSM is the world’s most proven technology, with more than 30 million GSM customers in nearly 110 countries,” said Lyndon Daniels, chairman of GSM North America and president of Pacific Bell Mobile Services.
GSM systems were the first ones launched in the United States, because the technology had passed the learning curve and could be quickly deployed. And equipment was available at an affordable cost because, although it needed a frequency adjustment, the economy of scale exists, GSM promoters said. American Personal Communications Inc. launched in November of 1995 with GSM, followed by launches throughout 1996 by other GSM carriers such as BellSouth Mobility DCS, Omnipoint Communications Inc., Powertel Inc. and others.
Will PACS take off?
Where are the equipment contracts for PACS? A year-and-a-half after it was introduced as a low-tier mobility option for PCS operators, there have been few PACS equipment contracts signed.
Personal Access Communications System, a hybrid system, is supported by several equipment vendors, notably Hughes Network Systems Inc., Siemens-Stromberg Carlson, Bellcore and NEC Corp.
So far, only two PCS licensees have signed equipment contracts for PACS, and both of them are C-block carriers. San Francisco-based Windkeeper Communications will use PACS in the Virgin Islands. 21st Century Telesis of Newport Beach, Calif., is building PACS systems in New York state, Nebraska, Indiana and Mississippi.
21st Century won eight F-block and two D-block licenses in the January spectrum auction, where PACS also may be deployed. The new markets are in Indiana, Nebraska and Pennsylvania.
Hughes explains the lack of PACS contracts by saying announcements are just down the road. It expects PACS to be used in fixed wireless systems, and the recent winners of 10-megahertz spectrum are the most likely candidates for that application.
General Communications Inc. of Anchorage, Alaska, has said it intends to deploy PACS in its Alaska market, although no contract announcements have been made.
And on the fringe of the PACS possibility hangs DECT, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone. Ericsson Inc. has introduced a DECT phone, the SuperCordless, which is scheduled to be available this quarter.
Like PACS, DECT is a low-tier system that is used in Europe as a type of cordless phone with mobility. And, again like PACS, it may be preferred by 10-megahertz license winners for a fixed wireless type system.
