GSM North America
Member Companies
GSM North America carriers include:
American Personal Communications, an affiliate of Sprint Spectrum L.P., was founded in 1989 with the goal of obtaining a license to offer wireless service in the Washington-Baltimore area. It was designated a "Pioneer" by the Federal Communi-cations Commission because of its technological innovations concerning shared frequency use. APC received its license in 1994 and announced its partnership with Sprint Spectrum L.P. in January 1995. APC was the first broadband PCS carrier to provide commercial service and added 60,000 customers in four months, and reached the 100,000 mark in eight months.
American Portable Telecom http://www.teldta.com/tds/portable , (NASDAQ:APT), headquartered in Chicago, has six PCS licenses covering 27.3 million of the U.S. population. APT’s markets include Columbus, Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis St. Paul, Pittsburgh, and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Orlando. APT is currently constructing GSM networks for its PCS markets and intends to begin marketing efforts and launch commercial service by early 1997.
BellSouth Mobility DCS (http://www.bellsouthdcs.com/) is a subsidiary of BellSouth Corporation, the world’s wireless leader. The company is developing its PCS network in the Carolinas and East Tennessee with partners DukeNet, a subsidiary of Duke power, CaroNet, a subsidiary of Carolina Power & Light; and 30 independent telephone companies. The BellSouth Mobility DCS network will cover a total population of almost 12 million. BellSouth Corporation is a $17.9 billion communications company providing telecommunications, wireless communications, directory advertising and publishing, and information services to more than 25 million customers in 17 countries worldwide.
Microcell Telecommunications Inc. is a privately-owned Canadian company awarded one of two 30 MHz PCS national licenses in Canada. The company is structured into four independent subsidiaries that operate within a single management entity. The Microcell Group includes: Microcell Connexions, responsible for network deployment, operations and marketing; Microcell Solutions, the national supplier of PCS services under the FIDOTM trademark; Microcell Labs, a PCS research center; and Microcell Capital, a venture capital company operating in the PCS sector. Microcell is expected to launch its FIDO service in Montreal by the end of the year
Omnipoint Communications, Inc. Founded in 1987, Omnipoint Corporation is a leader in wireless technology development and PCS provision. The company has received PCS licenses that cover more than 40 million people, making Omnipoint the fifth largest PCS operator in the United States. Omnipoint also is marketing its patented IS-661 technology and equipment to other PCS providers around the world through its partners, Ericsson Inc. and Nortel Inc. Since completing a successful initial public offering in January 1996, the company has raised nearly $240 million in public equity and has arranged for more than $750 million in vendor financing from Nortel and Ericsson.
Pacific Bell Mobile Services, http://www.pacbell.com is the wireless subsidiary of Pacific Bell. Pacific Telesis Group, the parent company of PBMS and Pacific Bell is a diversified telecommunications corporation based in San Francisco. One of Pacific Bell Mobile Services licenses covers about 19 million people in Southern California and Nevada. It was the second largest PCS license area auctioned by the FCC. PBMS’ second license covers about 12 million people in Northern California and Nevada—the fourth largest license area auctioned.
Pocket Communications, Inc. is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and will offer consumers and businesses a broad portfolio of wireless telecommunications services including local, long distance, information, messaging, Internet access and data services. Pocket was formed in 1994 as DCR Communications, Inc. and is the nation’s sixth largest PCS company with licenses covering a population of more than 35 million people. The company also is the second largest company in the U.S. using GSM technology. Pocket’s major markets include Chicago, Detroit, Dallas-Ft. Worth, St. Louis, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Honolulu.
Powertel, Inc., http://www.icel.com a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intercel, Inc. (NASDAQ:ICEL) headquartered in West Point, GA, owns licenses to provide PCS service to a potential 16 million customers in a 180,000 contiguous square mile service area in all or part of 10 Southeastern states. Powertel plans to market its PCS service, using GSM technology, under the Powertel brand name in the Jacksonville, Memphis/Jackson and Birmingham MTAs beginning in the fourth quarter 1996 and in the Atlanta MTA beginning in late 1997.
Western Wireless Corporation, http://www.voicestream.com/index.htm based in Issaquah, Washington, is a leading provider of wireless communications services in the western United States. The company owns and operates wireless cellular phone systems marketed under the Cellular One ® name in 15 states west of the Mississippi River. Western Wireless currently offers PCS services marketed under the VoiceStreamSM Wireless brand in four U.S. metropolitan markets – Honolulu, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Portland, Oregon. In January 1996, Western Wireless agreed to purchase the Denver MTA. These licenses extend the company’s geographic footprint to 22 states and enable Western Wireless to offer VoiceStream Wireless service to about 19.5 million potential customers.
GSM North America Manufacturers
Ericsson http://www.ericsson.com/
Nokia Group http://www.nokia.com
Nortel http://www.nortel.com/home/home.htmt
Siemens
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GSM Coverage in North America Facts
Number of GSM Markets in Operation:
21 in the U.S.
More than 200 carriers in 100 countries have chosen GSM
Number of MTAs to be served by GSM carrier: 25
Number of BTAs to be served by GSM carrier: 84
Number of GSM Customers:
More than 150,000 in U.S.;
21 million customers around the world
Combined Potential GSM POPS in U.S.: 192.6 million
National license in Canada
Growth Comparison with Cellular:
It took the cellular industry almost a year-and-a-half to first reach the 100,000 customer mark. In only nine months, three GSM carriers have far exceeded that total.
GSM North American Markets in Service:
American Personal Communications (Sprint Spectrum)
Washington, D.C. and Baltimore markets.
BellSouth Mobility DCS
Tennessee markets of Knoxville and Tri-Cities which includes Kingsport, Bristol and Johnson City;
The North Carolina markets of Charlotte, Hickory and Gastonia; Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill; Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point; Asheville; Burlington; Wilmington; and Fayetteville;
The South Carolina markets of Greenville and Spartanburg; Columbia; Florence; and Myrtle Beach.
Western Wireless (VoiceStream Wireless)
Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico;
Honolulu, Hawaii;
Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo, Utah;
Portland and Salem, Oregon.
Powertel
Jacksonville, Florida
Montgomery, Alabama
GSM North America
News
GSM Customers in North America Top 100,000, Commercial Service Active in 19 U.S. Markets Sept. 18, 1996
Microcell Solutions Inc signs agreement valued at more than $16 million CDN with Nokia for the purchase of PCS1900 mobile phones and accessories.October 3, 1996
Powertel Turns GSM Service on to Customers in Florida and Alabama October 14, 1996
GSM North America
News
GSM Customers in North America Top 100,000, Commercial Service Active in 19 U.S. Markets
GSM North America Group Cites First to Market Record,
Announces Proactive Efforts to Promote GSM Technology
SAN FRANCISCO – In a show of strength, senior executives of nine North American Broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS) carriers announced at a news conference today that there are now more than 100,000 customers in 19 U.S. markets using Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) digital services.
"Our message today is very simple …GSM is Here!" said Lyndon Daniels, president and CEO of Pacific Bell Mobile Services and chairperson of GSM North America, the GSM MoU’s North American Interest Group. "With real customers … real markets … real proven, reliable, state-of-the-art technology and a real worldwide, mobile communications standard."
Participants in the news conference included: American Personal Communications CEO Scott Schelle; American Portable Telecom President & CEO Don Warkentin; BellSouth Mobility DCS President & CEO Eric Ensor; Microcell Telecommunications President Andre Tremblay; Omnipoint Communications Inc. President George Schmitt; Pocket Communications, Inc. Chairman & CEO Daniel Riker; Powertel President Allen Smith; Western Wireless Director of Corporate Development Scott Hopper; and GSM MoU Chairperson Gretel Hoffman, director-technology for BellSouth Mobility DCS.
"GSM wireless carriers continue to break new ground for the PCS industry," Daniels explained. "It took the cellular industry almost a year-and-a-half to first reach the 100,000 customer mark. In only 9 months, three GSM carriers have far exceeded that total."
Daniels said that GSM has shown how its tried and true technology gives new PCS carriers a fast head start over competitors. He explained that GSM offers the widest availability of handsets and infrastructure equipment. GSM’s feature-rich, mature digital technology and use of smart cards gives added security and flexibility to carriers in providing valued customer service.
"The GSM bandwagon leads the parade. GSM was the first and today remains the only digital PCS technology in widespread commercial use in the United States," Daniels said. "With time to market a key to success, GSM is a major plus."
According to Daniels, GSM service is already being provided by the following carriers in North America: American Personal Communications (Sprint Spectrum) in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore markets. BellSouth Mobility DCS provides service in the Tennessee markets of Knoxville and Tri-Cities which includes Kingsport, Bristol and Johnson City; the North Carolina markets of Charlotte, Hickory and Gastonia; Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill; Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point; Asheville; Burlington; Wilmington; and Fayetteville; as well as the South Carolina markets of Greenville and Spartanburg; Columbia; Florence; and Myrtle Beach.
In addition, Western Wireless (VoiceStream Wireless) provides GSM service in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico; Honolulu, Hawaii; Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo, Utah; and Portland and Salem, Oregon.
Daniels said that 21 million customers around the world now use GSM service, and that nearly 200 wireless carriers in 100 countries have chosen GSM. He also said that North American GSM carriers continue to negotiate and sign roaming agreements.
"Our goal is that GSM customers will eventually be able to cross national, as well as state borders, and find that their mobile services cross with them," Daniels said. "Today, GSM subscribers can roam to 70 countries. By the year 2000, roaming will be possible to more than 100 countries."
Daniels also announced that the consortium of leading PCS providers using GSM technology in the United States and Canada, now will be called GSM North America. In addition, the member companies will use "GSM" instead of "PCS 1900" to describe the digital standard. The alliance also plans to be more proactive in raising awareness about the benefits of the technology.
Member companies of the GSM North America alliance include: American Personal Communications/ Sprint Spectrum, American Portable Telecom, BellSouth Mobility DCS, Omnipoint Communications, Inc., Pacific Bell Mobile Services, Pocket Communications, Inc., Powertel, Inc., Microcell Telecommunications Inc., and Western Wireless Corporation. Formed last year, the group’s primary purpose is to bring service providers and equipment manufacturers together to identify and resolve issues related to making GSM (Global Systems for Mobile Communications) the premier PCS digital technology.
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For additional information: Contact: Mike Houghton
GSM North America
News
Microcell Announces CDN$16M Deal for Equipment
MONTREAL (Oct. 3) BUSINESS WIRE -Oct. 3, 1996--Microcell Solutions Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Microcell Telecommunications Inc., announced that it has signed an agreement valued at more than $16 million CDN with Nokia for the purchase of PCS1900 mobile phones and accessories.
Personal Communications Services (PCS) represent the new generation of wireless communications systems. Based entirely on digital technology, PCS offers many advantages, including voice quality, confidentiality, affordability to users and support for a wide range of cutting edge services.
The Nokia 2190 PCS handsets operate on PCS1900 technology, the Americas version of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), a worldwide digital standard, currently being deployed by Microcell throughout its national PCS network. The contract calls for commercial shipments beginning in September 1996 and extending through 1997.
Microcell's PCS system is completely digital, including advanced features not currently available with most cellular telephones, and will deliver wireless services with unequaled transmission security and voice quality. Microcell will provide a variety of enhanced telecommunications services, such as voice/fax/text messaging and information services throughout Canada.
Microcell will launch its PCS service in the fourth quarter of 1996 in Montreal, followed by four other major Canadian urban centres by mid-1997. At the end of 1998, Microcell's PCS network will reach some 20 million Canadians.
Ken Bond, director of business development for Nokia in Canada said, "We are extremely pleased to be part of Canadian telecommunication history by participating with Microcell in their national launch of PCS services. Microcell will be the first wireless operator to provide 2 GHz services in Canada, and Nokia will be with them when the first commercial PCS calls are made in this country. With mobile phone sales in more than 100 countries, Nokia has been a part of many telecommunication milestones. To be chosen as a major handset supplier by Microcell Solutions is a tremendously exciting opportunity for Nokia in Canada."
"This partnership is key to the successful launch of our service," added Cristiane Bourbonnais, Vice President of Microcell Solutions. Nokia's innovative GSM-based PCS1900 handset is a very user-friendly device that has already proven itself for almost a year in the US market."
Finland-based Nokia is an international telecommunications company with 1995 net sales of CDN 11.6 billion. Nokia employs more than 34,000 people in 45 countries and is Europe's largest manufacturer of mobile telephones, a pioneer in digital switching and wireless communications. Nokia shares trade on the Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt, Paris, and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NOKA.
Microcell is a privately owned company solidly committed to the deployment of PCS in Canada. The company consists of four subsidiaries that operate within a single management company. Within the Microcell group, Microcell Solutions is the national supplier of PCS services under the Fido(TM) trademark.
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CONTACT: Nokia Mobile Phones
Megan Matthews, 214/257-9267
Microcell Telecommunications Inc.
Claire Fiset, 514/846-7824
GSM North America
News
Powertel Turns Up GSM Commercial Service in Florida and Alabama
WEST POINT, GA. (Oct. 11) BUSINESS WIRE -Oct. 11, 1996--Powertel, a wholly owned subsidiary of InterCel, Inc. (Nasdaq-NMS:ICEL), announced that the Montgomery, Alabama market has opened today and the Jacksonville, Florida market will be open on Tuesday, October 15 for commercial business, each having recently passed network readiness testing. At least ten of the Company's other metropolitan areas are currently being drive-tested for voice quality and transmission coverage, ensuring that Powertel is on schedule to bring all three of its Major Trading Areas (MTAs) on line in the fourth quarter of 1996.
"Our network readiness criteria is formidable," said Allen E. Smith, president and chief executive officer of Powertel. "The bottom line on passing is whether the network is good enough to meet the quality expectations of our customers. I'm pleased to say that being in an aggressive testing phase across the Powertel footprint means that markets will open quickly."
The next large market expected to be officially opened is Memphis. Atlanta, which is the Company's fourth MTA, is slated to open in late 1997 and is also on schedule.
The Company also announced that it currently has commitments with two major highly visible east coast-headquartered retailers for sales of its handsets throughout the entire coverage footprint, and with one of the nation's leading consumer electronics retailers for the Memphis and Atlanta MTAs. The Company is also working with other mass merchandisers to finalize similar commitments. Combined, those stores represent a minimum of 120 retail opportunities for consumers. In addition, Powertel, which has retail centers in each of its MTAs already staffed and trained, will continue to open additional retail centers throughout 1997 for sales and service.
"The beauty of this opportunity is that consumers throughout the region can walk into these stores, purchase a branded Powertel phone and walk out a Powertel customer. Basically, all they have to do is call in to sign up for service," Smith said.
According to Smith, retailers appreciate that Powertel promises to offer a huge coverage area which means customers won't incur roaming charges anywhere within that area, and that makes Powertel's service affordable to a huge segment of the marketplace which believes cellular service is too expensive. He adds that Powertel utilizes Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology which has been deployed commercially in the United States and in over 98 countries worldwide.
An aggressive advertising and promotions program to help brand the service and convey a better value proposition for the consumer will soon be fully underway. Through a mix of outdoor boards, print, television, publicity and launch parties from early October throughout the first quarter of 1997, the Company hopes to gain a competitive edge over future entrants not yet in the southeastern markets.
Powertel's coverage area encompasses over 16 million people in a 180,000 contiguous-square-mile service area in all or part of ten southeastern states.
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CONTACT: Cookerly & Co. Carol Cookerly or Chip Stewart, 404/816-2037
GSM Links
GSM Information Network - Netherlands
Welkom bij PTT Telecom (Netherlands)
GSMag - GSM magazine on the WWW
GSM Information Network - Links Links Links
Telstra Mobile Comms (Australia)
Vodaphone Mobile Digital Australia.
E Plus Mobilfunk GMbH (Germany)
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