BSNS WIRE) Triton PCS Awards Contract to Wireless Facilities Inc., WFI,
Triton PCS Awards Contract to Wireless Facilities Inc., WFI, for Network
Alarming and Fault Management Services
Business Editors
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2000--Wireless Facilities
Inc. (WFI) (Nasdaq:WFII) announced today that Triton PCS Inc. has
signed a three-year contract for WFI to provide 24-by-7 network fault
management and alarm monitoring services.
Triton PCS, the first member of the AT&T Wireless Services Inc.
network of affiliates, provides 1900 MHz TDMA service covering a
population of 11.4 million people in Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, northern Georgia and northeastern Tennessee.
"Providing superior network coverage and quality is a key reason
for Triton PCS's operating success since we launched service last
January," said Steve Skinner, Triton PCS president and chief operating
officer. "We now serve 27 Southeastern markets and continue an
aggressive expansion program to meet strong consumer demand. With this
extensive growth, we concluded a more centralized approach to network
management would offer significant cost efficiencies. Capitalizing on
WFI's experience in the deployment and management of wireless networks
worldwide gives us the flexibility to concentrate on delivering
'best-in-class' wireless service."
Under the terms of this contract, San Diego-based WFI will
provide network fault management and alarm monitoring services for a
network totaling 2,300 cell sites and nine switches by the end of
2001. WFI will be responsible for the surveillance and fault
management of the Triton PCS network 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. This includes the fault management of overall network
operations, from switch locations to home location register (HLR)
equipment, cell sites, voice mail services, short message capabilities
and prepaid platforms.
Scott Fox, president of WFI's Network Management Group, said, "We
are proud to have been selected by Triton PCS to provide them with our
superior network management services. WFI has worked very closely with
Triton PCS over the years encompassing all phases of their network's
growth. We have been privileged to have been involved in the initial
design, optimization, and now the ongoing management of Triton PCS'
world class network. This agreement will provide Triton PCS with
turnkey, state-of-the-art monitoring and alarm management services for
their network operations that will help ensure the highest quality
service and reliability. This new capability underscores WFI's ability
to deliver a complete and comprehensive portfolio of services to our
wireless customers around the world."
WFI is currently providing Triton PCS with radio frequency (RF)
design, optimization and performance engineering services under a
contract that runs through 2001. Based on WFI's commitment and
performance during the design and deployment of the Triton PCS
network, this contract was extended to cover the network fault
management services.
"In a marketplace that has become increasingly crowded, we
believe the most effective way to differentiate our offering is by
delivering superior service and customer care," Skinner said. "WFI has
demonstrated the capabilities, competency and commitment required to
help us manage our network, which translates into a more efficient and
cost-effective network solution for our subscribers."
About Wireless Facilities
A global leader in telecommunications outsourcing, Wireless
Facilities Inc. designs, deploys and manages wireless networks for
some of the largest telecom carriers and equipment suppliers
worldwide. Specializing in network architecture and dimensioning of
mobile and high speed wireless data systems, WFI provides a complete
range of network services -- from business and market planning to RF
engineering, fixed network engineering, site acquisition and
development, installation, optimization and maintenance. Headquartered
in San Diego, WFI has grown to more than 900 employees and has
performed work in 26 countries since the firm was founded in 1994. The
company has offices in Washington, D.C., Mexico City, Sao Paulo, New
Delhi and London. News and information are available at
www.wfinet.com.
About Triton PCS
Triton PCS, the first member of the AT&T Wireless Services Inc.
network of affiliates, is licensed to build and operate a digital
wireless network in a contiguous area covering 13 million people in
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, northern Georgia and
northeastern Tennessee. The Berwyn, Pennsylvania-based company is
marketing its service under the brand SunCom, a member of the AT&T
Wireless Network. For more information on Triton PCS, visit
www.tritonpcs.com or www.suncom.com.
This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as "anticipates,"
"expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "may," "will," and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements are only predictions, and the company's actual results may
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements. Factors that may cause such differences, include, but are
not limited to, uncertainties associated with managing a rapidly
growing company; risks related to effectively managing our
international operations; uncertainties related to hiring and
retaining key management personnel and engineers to staff rapidly
growing domestic and international operations; and risks related to
our dependence on industry trends toward outsourcing the types of
services WFI provides and the continued growth in deployment of
wireless networks. These factors and others are more fully discussed
under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the company's registration
statement on Form-1 (NO.333-85515) as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
--30--jm/sd* sf/sd
CONTACT: Wireless Facilities Inc. (WFI)
Kristi Weaver, 858/824-2929
kristi.weaver@wfinet.com
or
Triton PCS
Melissa Nichols, 610/722-4286
mnichols@tritonpcs.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA VIRGINIA NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROLINA
GEORGIA TENNESSEE
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNET SOFTWARE NETWORKING
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