PrimeCo Inks $210 Million Deal With Lucent
Purchase of Infrastructure Equipment Lays Foundation for Launch Of 'Third Generation' CDMA Digital Features and Services
DALLAS, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- PrimeCo Personal Communications, L.P. today announced it has signed a $210 million contract with Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) to purchase infrastructure equipment to enhance the capacity and reach of its existing network, plus expand into new markets throughout Florida, Texas and the mid-Gulf region. Implementation of the contract, which began in late fourth quarter of 1999, includes the installation of a variety of switching elements and hundreds of new base stations. This new equipment paves the way for the launch of new digital features and services enabled through third-generation CDMA* technology.
"This agreement covers the initial phase of PrimeCo's aggressive build plan for 2000, and will allow us to significantly expand coverage and enhance the data capabilities of our network," said Limond Grindstaff, PrimeCo's Chief Technical Officer. "The goal is to enlarge our footprint for our growing customer base in current markets and to rapidly deploy new service in other high-demand areas."
The purchase agreement also marks the first step in PrimeCo's migration toward the implementation of the next generation of CDMA technology, according to Grindstaff. "PrimeCo continues to invest millions in its network to ensure PrimeCo customers have access to the latest innovations in wireless services," he said.
Lucent, PrimeCo's infrastructure provider, is currently conducting multiple trials of next-generation CDMA technology, known as 3G, worldwide. Emerging 3G technology will enable an array of products and services, including high-speed mobile data and two-way messaging.
"We're excited to be working with a leading service provider like PrimeCo to add a whole new dimension to wireless communications," said Bob Bellion, Lucent wireless sales vice president. "This new technology will eventually make it possible to provide new features that streamline voice and Internet communications."
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 microelectronics 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.
PrimeCo Personal Communications, which is owned by Bell Atlantic and Vodafone AirTouch, provides digital wireless service in more than 35 major cities in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. The company has PCS licenses covering about 60 million potential customers in 10 major trading areas and has 3,300 employees. At the end of the fourth quarter 1999, PrimeCo had over 1.3 million subscribers. PrimeCo phones and service are sold through the company's 132 stores and kiosks, its business-to-business direct sales force, almost 2,300 indirect retailers and its toll-free telephone sales line 1-800-PRIMECO(SM). The address for PrimeCo's interactive web site is www.primeco.com.
* Code Division Multiple Access
SOURCE PrimeCo Personal Communications, L.P.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: Print-quality artwork can be downloaded from PrimeCo's
Multimedia Art section, located in the company's Digital News Room site. The
Multimedia Art section includes high- and low-resolution photos of PrimeCo
executives, products, retail environments, innovative antenna locations, as
well as artwork for the corporate logo and Primetheus, the little pink alien
featured in PrimeCo television ads. The URL for the Digital News Room is
news.primeco.com./
/CONTACT: Catarina Wylie, Director of Corporate Communications of
PrimeCo, 817-258-1531, or cwylie@primeco.com; or Kevin Beagley of Lucent
Technologies, 972-745-4810, or kpbeagley@lucent.com/
/Web site: lucent.com
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