Just another small CDMA contract for LU:
Thursday June 18, 7:00 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Sprint PCS
Sprint PCS Announces Contract With Lucent Technologies to Expand Nation's Largest Nationwide PCS Wireless Network in New and Existing Cities
Expects to Spend Up to $700 Million
KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint PCS today announced it expects to spend up to $700 million over the next three years with Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - news) to supply equipment and services for the next phase of its nationwide wireless network development and expansion. The contract is in addition to an existing $1.8 billion contract already spent with Lucent in the first phase of Sprint PCS' national roll-out of its 100-percent digital, 100-percent PCS nationwide wireless network.
''We continue to aggressively build and expand the all-digital, Sprint PCS nationwide network on a massive scale,'' said Sprint PCS Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sukawaty. ''The capital investment we've announced today is another illustration of our goal to offer consumers and businesses throughout the United States the clarity, coverage and value of the nation's only 100 percent digital nationwide PCS network. In fact, just last week we announced our first affiliation agreements to quickly bring Sprint PCS service to a number of key mid-size cities and we're nearing the launch phase of the 'D' and 'E' band PCS license cities held by Sprint Corporation [NYSE:FON - news]. The promise of a seamless, nationwide PCS network under one brand is now reality.''
Under the new contract, Sprint PCS will expand PCS coverage areas in cities throughout the United States. This includes the expansion of coverage areas in current Sprint PCS markets and the building of new networks in markets not currently served by Sprint PCS, including Las Vegas, Nev.; Riverside, Calif.; Southern New Jersey (including Atlantic City); Colorado Springs, Vail, and the Summit County ski areas in Colorado.
Similar to its first agreement with Sprint PCS, Lucent will supply and install CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network infrastructure equipment and services including base stations, switches, software and professional services.
''Our network is among the largest and most sophisticated wireless PCS networks in the world,'' said Keith Paglusch, senior vice president of Technical Services and Network Operations for Sprint PCS. ''Over the past three years, we've worked with many partners to build our network. We look forward to working with Lucent in the future to continue to enhance the reach of Sprint PCS and the technical advances of our network.''
Nina Aversano, president of Lucent's Global Commercial Markets business, said: ''Lucent continues to be proud of the work we've done on behalf of Sprint PCS and we appreciate the opportunity to continue working with the company as it increases its coverage. Sprint PCS' choice of Lucent is a continued vote of confidence in our products and our people and we look forward to working with Sprint PCS and expanding our relationship.''
Lucent Technologies is the leading supplier of wireless networks to service providers in North America, and there is at least one Lucent-built network in each of the top 95 U.S. markets. Lucent is also a leading global supplier of CDMA systems, with some 100 networks either in commercial service or under deployment around the world. |
