Ramsey, All *CDMA vs GSM*
A while back our friend Tero was still arguing that GSM in North America was growing faster than CDMA. Well, take a look at the number of new GSM subs for the first quarter - ~600,000 for all GSM operators in US and Canada. Now look at the number just for Sprint PCS alone - ~743,000. Also note Sprint PCS itself now has almost as many total subs as the entire North American GSM industry.
SPRINT PCS GROUP HIGHLIGHTS:
-- Sprint PCS added 763,000 new customers, including approximately 20,000 customers acquired through the purchase of the PrimeCo operation in Hawaii. Sprint PCS ended the quarter with a total of 3.35 million customers.
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GSM Adds More Than 600,000 Customers in First Quarter Total
Reaches 3.6 Million in United States & Canada
Commercial Wireless PCS Service Available in 3,500 Cities in 45 U.S. States, the District of Columbia
and Four Canadian Provinces
CHICAGO, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American GSM Alliance LLC announced today that 3.6
million customers across the United States and Canada use Global System for Mobile Communications
(GSM) wireless digital phones.
"More than 600,000 new GSM customers were added in the first quarter of 1999," said Don Warkentin,
Chairman of the North American GSM Alliance L.L.C., and President and Chief Executive Officer of Aerial
Communications. "GSM service providers in North America now offer commercial service in about 3,500
cities in 45 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and four Canadian provinces."
According to Warkentin, in the past six months nearly 1.5 million customers have signed up for service
with one of the 17 North American GSM companies providing commercial service. In addition, the total
number of cities with active commercial service increased by 1,000 in the first quarter alone -- an
equivalent of 11 new cities added daily.
"The world's wireless digital technology of choice is spreading quickly throughout North America. It is
clear by its dramatic growth rate that consumers recognize the value of GSM's proven, feature-rich, digital
service," Warkentin explained. "Thanks to the North American GSM Alliance, we provide our wireless
customers with localized 'home-town' service down the block, out- of-town, or internationally."
In the United States, seven of the top ten PCS carriers provide GSM service. Commercial GSM service
soon will be available in the top 10 wireless markets, with eight markets already in service. GSM coverage
now reaches 162 million of the people in North America -- covering more than 52 percent of the Canadian
population and nearly 62 percent of the United States population.
Quickly building out their planned national coverage in the U.S. and Canada, GSM companies have
installed more than 11,500 cell sites. In comparison, it took the entire U.S. cellular industry 10 years to
reach that mark.
In addition to investing billions of dollars to establish their networks and launch their services, U.S. and
Canadian GSM operators have created nearly 14,000 new direct jobs with an estimated 35,000 new
workers involved in service, manufacturing and associated jobs.
"GSM's dramatic North American growth parallels the unprecedented surge in customers worldwide. In
1998 alone, 65 million customers signed up for GSM services -- that's nearly equal to the number of
non-GSM wireless customers added in the U.S. in the past 16 years, or about three times the total of
CDMA customers worldwide," Warkentin said. "GSM not only continues to lead CDMA, it's widening the
gap."
At year's end, GSM customers totaled 160 million -- equal to 45 percent of the entire world wireless
market, or 62 percent of the global digital market. The GSM Association today represents the interests of
347 GSM, Satellite and 3G network operators, regulators and administrative bodies from 133 countries
and areas of the world.
The North American GSM Alliance L.L.C. is a group of North America's leading digital wireless Personal
Communication Services companies. By using Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications
technology, Alliance companies provide superior voice clarity, unparalleled security and leading-edge
wireless voice, data and fax features for customers, whether at home, away or abroad.
GSM Alliance members include: Aerial Communications, Inc., Airadigm Communications, Inc.; BellSouth
Mobility DCS; Conestoga Wireless Company; Cook Inlet PCS; DIGIPH PCS; Iowa Wireless Services, LP;
Microcell Telecommunications Inc.; NPI Wireless; Omnipoint Communications LLC; Pacific Bell Wireless;
Powertel, Inc.; STPCS Joint Venture, LLC; TWS, Inc.; Western Total Communications; Western Wireless
Corp.; and Wireless 2000 PCS. The GSM Alliance works in cooperation with North American GSM
equipment manufacturers: Siemens, Motorola, Nortel Networks, Nokia and Ericsson.
SOURCE North American GSM Alliance LLC |
