Sprint Affiliate Illinois PCS to Buy US$32 Million in Nortel Networks Equipment
DALLAS, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ - Illinois PCS, an affiliate of Sprint PCS, will provide personal communications services under the Sprint PCS brand in central Illinois and the Quad Cities using cdmaOne (IS-95 CDMA) network infrastructure equipment from Nortel Networks (NYSE/TSE: NT).
Scheduled for commercial service in October, the Illinois PCS network will include Nortel Networks CDMA Metro Cell base stations and DMS-100 Wireless switching equipment under a three-year agreement valued at US$32 million.
With the help of Nortel Networks, Illinois PCS will provide high-quality service to local subscribers as well as customers who travel within our markets,'' said Tim Yeager, president and chief executive officer, Illinois PCS.
Nortel Networks is now building CDMA networks valued at more than US$150 million for four Sprint affiliates -- Southwest PCS in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas; Alamosa PCS in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado; Swiftel in South Dakota, and Illinois PCS.
Our affiliates benefit from the strength of the Sprint brand while extending the reach of our network,'' said Tom Mateer, vice-president, affiliates, Sprint PCS. ''We look forward to Illinois PCS offering the same high degree of value, call clarity, connectivity and nationwide coverage that Sprint PCS provides to its customer base.''
With our expertise in networking, radio and IP (Internet Protocol), Nortel Networks is well positioned to help Illinois PCS deliver superior voice quality as well as a set of features that will follow customers across the Sprint nationwide wireless network,'' said Maureen Patterson, vice-president, Wireless Solutions, Nortel Networks.
Nortel Networks' CDMA Metro Cell base stations offer flexibility, high-capacity and third generation readiness for modular, cost-effective deployment in urban and suburban environments.
Nortel Networks' DMS-100 Wireless is the switching system of choice for operators pursuing PCS and local service revenues in newly competitive local exchange markets. Combining wireless and wireline on a single platform, the DMS-100 Wireless switch offers Integrated Wireless Centrex services, integrated voice mail and other integrated services for market differentiation and more efficient network operation.
Illinois PCS is the Sprint PCS affiliate responsible for building and operating the all-digital, all-PCS wireless network in central Illinois and the Quad Cities. As a Sprint PCS affiliate, Illinois PCS will offer amazingly clear nationwide voice and information services affordable enough to use whenever you want. Illinois PCS will launch multiple Sprint PCS retail locations and authorized retailers who will market Sprint PCS products throughout central Illinois and the Quad Cities. |
