re: 1xRTT at Verizon
Nokia is going to need that 1xRTT chipset they have in design and scheduled for release end of year or Q1 2001 ... then again, QUALCOMM needs an MSM5105 and the MSM5100.
>> Verizon Wireless Hires Lucent For 3G, Trumps Sprint PCS
Kristy Bassuener
Wireless Week
March 19, 2001
Verizon Wireless today announced it would buy three years and $5 billion worth of cdma2000 infrastructure gear from Lucent Technologies. The move will increase call-volume capabilities of Verizon's current network infrastructure, as well as help the carrier roll out a commercial third-generation network in the United States later in 2001, the company's statement says.
The Lucent gear will enable increased volume and double capacity without further investment in base stations, Verizon says. The deal this morning has proved to be a lifesaver for Lucent, bogged down with an SEC investigation, layoffs and a 52-week-low share price of $9.99 at market close on Friday. This morning shares in Lucent rebounded, jumping more than 11 percent to $11.10 after the announcement.
Separately, Verizon Wireless today announced the rollout of its high-speed 1XRTT wireless Internet network infrastructure in Las Vegas and San Diego. Enabling data rates up to 144 kilobytes per second, the shared-bandwidth network is already operational in the two cities, trumping Sprint PCS' plans to announce at this week's CTIA Wireless 2001 that it will to roll out 144kbps rate services 'later in the year.'
It is unclear, however, if there are any handsets available for use on Verizon's slick new 1XRTT networks. Executives familiar with the handset part of the high-speed network announcement did not return calls for comment by deadline.
The infrastructure is part of a $500 million deal Verizon has with Nortel Networks, and the new infrastructure will increase reliability of mobile phones as will as enable more features. The networks in both cities are part of Nortel's wireless/optical 'Wings of Light' strategy, upgradable to 3G, the companies say. <<
- Eric - |
