Roberts Wireless Communications, a Sprint PCS Network Partner, Awards Lucent Technologies $32 Million Contract for Network Build Out
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Roberts Wireless Communications and Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - news) today announced a $32 million supply contract to enable the wireless carrier to build and operate a PCS (Personal Communication Services) network throughout Missouri as a Network Partner of Sprint PCS (NYSE: PCS - news).
Roberts Wireless Communications' all-digital wireless network will be based upon Sprint PCS' all-digital, all-PCS nationwide network built on the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standard.
The Sprint PCS Service Area managed locally by Roberts Wireless encompasses 14 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs), including the entire state of Missouri -- except the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas -- and the southern tip of Illinois, the southeast corner of Kansas and the northeast corner of Oklahoma.
``With the help of Lucent Technologies, we will bring 21st century telephone and Internet communications to rural Missouri and many bordering communities as well as to Sprint PCS customers who work, live and travel throughout these areas,' said Mike Roberts, chairman and CEO of Roberts Wireless. ``Lucent is the premier supplier of wireless networks in the U.S. and its experience in rapid deployment will help us meet our very aggressive launch plans.'
``Our affiliate partners benefit from the strength of the Sprint brand while extending the reach of our network,' said Tom Mateer, vice-president of affiliates for Sprint PCS. ``We look forward to Roberts Wireless offering the same high degree of value, call clarity, connectivity and nationwide coverage that Sprint PCS provides to its customer base.'
Roberts Wireless will buildout and manage Sprint PCS Service in the Missouri cities of Columbia, Jefferson City, St. Joseph, Sedalia, Lake of the Ozarks, Springfield, and Joplin; Pittsburgh, Kan.; and Miami, Okla., with service launch expected in early 2000. By mid-2000, Roberts Wireless will be offering Sprint PCS Service to Rolla, Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Hannibal, and Kirksville, Mo., as well as Carbondale and Quincy, Ill.
Under the contract, Lucent will provide the switching hardware and software as well as radio hardware and software needed to build the CDMA-based wireless network. This equipment includes the Lucent's 5ESS© Switch, the industry's most reliable switching system according to independent data.
``We are delighted that Roberts Wireless has selected Lucent to help build its wireless network,' said Charlie Vogt, Lucent Technologies senior vice president-Sprint Customer Team. ``With Lucent's experience and expertise in building CDMA PCS networks, we look forward to demonstrating our ability to meet the quality, reliability and delivery requirements of Roberts Wireless and Sprint PCS.'
Roberts Wireless is the only 100 percent African-American owned operating PCS company in the United States. The company is owned by brothers Michael and Steven Roberts. Their venture into wireless communications is preceded by a decade of success in television broadcasting. Roberts Broadcasting, founded in 1989, owns several television stations in medium size markets throughout the country, and Michael Roberts has served as a member of the Board of Directors of ACME Communications, Inc. since April 1999. Other Roberts companies are engaged in commercial real estate development and construction program management. Both brothers are former aldermen in the city of St. Louis.
``We've been in business for 25 years and this is the most exciting venture we have ever pursued,' said Mike Roberts. ``We have teamed with the two most dynamic and cutting-edge companies in the industry, Sprint PCS and Lucent Technologies. I'm really looking forward to working with this team as we bring the benefits of modern communications to rural Missouri and its neighboring communities.'
Sprint PCS operates the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas including more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country. Sprint PCS has licensed PCS coverage of nearly 270 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information, visit the Sprint PCS web site at sprintpcs.com. Sprint PCS is a wholly-owned tracking group of Sprint Corporation trading on the NYSE under the symbol ``PCS'.
Sprint is a global communications company at the forefront in integrating long distance, local and wireless communications services and one of the world's largest carriers of Internet traffic. Sprint built and operates the United States' only nationwide all-digital, fiber optic network and is a leader in advanced data communications services. Sprint has $17 billion in annual revenues and serves more than 20 million business and residential customers.
Lucent Technologies supplies mobile and fixed wireless communications systems that offer global service providers standards-based solutions for serving the information needs of consumers and enterprises. Headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., Lucent designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, data networking systems, business telephone systems and microelectronic components. Bell Labs is the research and development arm for the company. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit the company's web site at lucent.com. |
