#TBT: Cellular, PCS set to square off; interconnect all the rage … 18 years ago this week

Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades and enjoy the memories!
PCS networks defy buildout problems
While naysayers doubted that personal communications services networks could be built out in record time, the five systems now up and running prove them wrong. Western Wireless Corp. last week turned on a PCS network in New Mexico, its third PCS launch in five months. The operator also has networks running in Honolulu and Salt Lake City. Each of the nation’s five PCS networks use Global System for Mobile communications technology at 1900 MHz. Four of the five networks were built entirely with equipment manufactured in Raleigh, N.C., by Northern Telecom Inc. … Read More
Anti-terrorism legislation including wiretap provision passed
Starting the week united but ending it divided, President Clinton and a bipartisan congressional group struggled to agree on an anti-terrorism bill to give law enforcement expanded wiretap authority and other tools to fight domestic and international crime. While there was an outside possibility for passing a bill before Congress broke for its August recess, some lawmakers suggested taking up the matter upon returning after Labor Day. White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta led the negotiations for the administration while Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) headed up the congressional task force. … Read More
AT&T Wireless and GTE Mobilnet interconnect networks
AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and GTE Mobilnet Inc. signed an agreement to interconnect their wireless data networks. Both networks use Cellular Digital Packet Data technology and combined can provide data service to more than 65 million potential customers in 34 cellular markets, AT&T said. Account service, rate policy and billing will be administered by the customer’s home carrier. … Read More
Digital service won’t stamp out analog SMR needs
For those who are banking on the growth of specialized mobile radio during the next few years, there is good news and there is good news. The good news is: The transition to digital technology will continue to grow, adding new voice and data services, and taking advantage of spectral efficiency. And the good news is that those carriers and subscribers whose business needs can be met by analog technology will be able to function in that environment for years to come. In any given month, Teltronic Inc. of Kensington, Md., installs 200 to 300 SMR and enhanced SMR units, an even mix between analog and digital. It acts as an agent or reseller for Motorola Inc., Nextel Communications Inc., Geotek Communications Inc., Sprint Spectrum L.P. and, soon, SkyTel Corp. Its predominant customers are state, local and federal government agencies in the tri-state area that includes the District of Columbia. … Read More
Interconnect fees to drop drastically
The Federal Communications Commission’s adoption last week of a sweeping local-competition docket at best opens the door for some wireless carriers to become true head-to-head competitors with local exchange carriers, and at least will help lower prices wireless carriers and subscribers pay for service. Aug. 1 “marks the end of the pre-competitive era of the telephone. We now are pro-competition instead of pro-competitor,” commented Commissioner James Quello. “To the wireless industry: We’ve heard your concerns, and we’ve reserved federal jurisdiction for you. I will presume that good-faith negotiations will continue.” Tom Wheeler, president of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, had a more concise response. “Hooray,” he said. “This is a great decision, probably the most significant since the decision to create two cellular carriers in a market.” … Read More
Analysts say carrier goal is to lock cellular users into contracts
Wireless analysts say cellular carriers have two distinct goals in releasing a barrage of pricing plans at this time. Get as many customers on contract as possible, and confuse the consumer to avoid price comparisons. “Now is the time for cellular operators to lock customers into a lengthy contract,” said Clint McClellan with DataQuest of San Jose. “They need to do that before PCS comes. After it arrives, they’ll come up with new plans.” Cellular carriers are using a classic divide and conquer strategy, said David Kerr, director of mobile communications for Giga Information Group. … Read More
‘Trick issues’ on horizon for wireless telecom bureau leader
In recent months, the Federal Communications Commission has focused the bulk of its attention on meeting and beating congressional telecom-reform mandates, the most recent of which involved adopting an order outlining the regulatory structure of local competition. Many commission projects-including several far-reaching wireless dockets-have been relegated to the back burner, forcing many carriers to put much-needed new business plans on hold. This will change. Michele Farquhar, chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, expects to spend the next six months on “tricky issues,” including refarming, tower siting, hearing-aid compatibility, spectrum management and partitioning/disaggregation. … Read More
Lucent seriously pursues handset manufacturing
Lucent Technologies Inc. said it doesn’t expect to renew its original equipment manufacturer contracts with Nokia Mobile Phones and Oki telecom at the end of the year when the agreements expire. Lucent said it is making good progress on establishing a factory in New Jersey to manufacture dual-mode handsets for the U.S. digital marketplace. The company’s initial emphasis will be cellular phones. “Our intention is to be a major player in the digital handset market, and capitalize on the evolution in U.S. cellular,” said John Skalko, spokesman for Lucent’s wireless products group. … Read More
Companies expand to serve market’s billing requirements
Gearing up for the influx in demand for customer care and billing, Cincinnati Bell Information Systems Inc. and American Management Systems announced the expansion of their businesses. CBIS said it has opened a data center in Orlando, Fla., that will provide the infrastructure, processes, methods and resources necessary to deliver customer care and billing services. The migration to the new complex is timely since CBIS’ combined Cincinnati and Orlando data center infrastructure will handle customer care and billing for Sprint Spectrum L.P., AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and PrimeCo Personal Communications L.P. in addition to its large cellular, wireline and cable client base. … Read More
PCS providers have to spend money to gain users
During the next five years, personal communications services are poised to make a significant advance over cellular telephone services, offering more versatile handsets, higher quality digital connections, far greater call completion and a focus on non-automobile mobility, according to a new monograph from Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group. However, the new PCS carriers-the C-block winners in particular-will face many challenges including the infrastructure buildout, extensive marketing and advertising, development of high-quality network operations, continued technology uncertainty as well as a complex set of regulatory difficulties, before they begin service and gain market share, the report said. … Read More
Check out RCR Wireless News’ Archives for more stories from the past.
Photo courtesy of the Marconi Society.
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