Below is a press release:
Motorola wins $35 million deal to supply Wireless North's PCS networks
with CDMA equipment
Business Wire - February 11, 1997 11:06
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 1997-- Motorola's Pan American Wireless Infrastructure
Division (PWID) has been selected to supply approximately $35 million in digital CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
equipment to PCS (Personal Communications Services) operator Wireless North, L.L.C. The new operator plans to provide
community cordless service, mobility PCS service, and cellular service to many towns and cities in Minnesota, the Dakotas,
Wisconsin and Iowa.
Deployment of Wireless North's initial PCS networks are scheduled to begin by September of 1997. The cities include Fargo
and Grand Forks, North Dakota; Fergus Falls, Brainerd, Willmar, Marshall, Duluth, Worthington, Rochester, Bemidji,
Mankato, in Minnesota; in Wisconsin's Eau Claire, LaCrosse and Superior; and Watertown, South Dakota. This targeted
coverage area incorporates 110,000 square miles and a has a potential customer population (POPS) of more than two
million.
"We are extremely please that Motorola's CDMA solution was selected by Wireless North," said Jack Finlayson, corporate
vice president and general manager of Motorola's PWID. "PCS subscribers in the Northern Midwest and Plains will soon
have access to the latest wireless technology delivering crystal clear connections, no cross-talk, enhanced reliability and near
land-line voice quality."
Motorola will install its new SC(TM)604 and SC(TM)601, the world's most compact CDMA radio base stations.
Motorola's high capacity EMX(R) 2500 (Electronic Mobile Exchange) mobile switch will also be deployed.
Wireless North, whose combined ownership includes several independent telephone companies, went through an extensive
technology and vendor selection process. "There was no single factor that swayed our decision," said Rick Rappe, president
and CEO of Wireless North. "Motorola brings an approach to PCS that we felt very comfortable with. We look at the
relationship with our technology vendor as a partnership and Motorola has worked hard to bring a total solution to our PCS
buildout efforts."
Motorola CIG is the only infrastructure vendor that provides all three of the fastest growing digital technologies -- CDMA,
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) -- for cellular and PCS worldwide.
Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors and advanced electronic
systems, components and services. Motorola's 1996 sales were $28 billion.
CONTACT: Motorola CIG
Jack Seller, 847/632-7248
or
Wireless North
Dan Richards, 612/230-4197 or 888/646-6727 |
