Wednesday July 29, 9:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Sprint PCS
Sprint PCS Continues Aggressive Expansion of Largest All-Digital Nationwide PCS Network with Addition of New Affiliates in 11 States
New Affiliates Will Add Key Cities in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas to the All-Digital Sprint PCS Nationwide Network
KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint PCS(SM) Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sukawaty today announced the continued expansion of the Sprint PCS network through several significant affiliation agreements that will bring Sprint PCS wireless service to key cities in 11 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. Sprint PCS has signed 10 affiliation agreements to date representing licensed PCS coverage of more than 24 million people in 16 states. Sprint PCS has signed new affiliation agreements with the following organizations:
AirGate Wireless LLC of Atlanta, Georgia, will serve Augusta and Savannah, GA; Asheville, Hickory, Rocky Mount, Wilmington, and other cities in North Carolina; Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and other cities in South Carolina; with licensed coverage of 6.8 million people.
ALAMOSA PCS LLC of Lubbock, Texas, will serve Flagstaff, and Prescott, AZ; Durango, Grand Junction and Pueblo, CO; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM; Abilene, Amarillo, El Paso, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland and Odessa, TX; and other cities throughout these states, with licensed coverage of 5.2 million people.
Enterprise Communications of Columbus, Georgia, will serve Auburn, Enterprise and Dothan, AL; Albany, Columbus, and LaGrange, GA; with licensed coverage of 1.1 million people. . * Southwest PCS, L.P. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, will serve Fayetteville and Fort Smith AR; Emporia, Manhattan and Salina, KS; Ardmore, Enid, Bartlesville, Lawton-Duncan, McAlester, Muskogee, Stillwater and Ponca City, OK; Wichita Falls, TX; with licensed coverage of 2.7 million people.
In addition to covering key cities, Sprint PCS affiliates will be extending Sprint PCS service to major highways and connecting roads between affiliate markets and current and future Sprint PCS markets.
The majority of affiliate markets will operate like every Sprint PCS market nationwide, using the same network hardware, PCS phones, marketing campaigns and pricing structures. Consumers and businesses will see little difference between markets operated by Sprint PCS and those operated by an affiliate.
''Our service is already available to consumers and business in most major cities across the country, making Sprint PCS the nation's largest all-digital nationwide PCS provider,'' Sukawaty said. ''With the launch of the remaining major markets like Chicago, Houston and Atlanta, just around the corner, the continued expansion of our existing markets, and the rapid addition of these new affiliates, our customers will be able to enjoy the convenience and benefit of 100 percent digital Sprint PCS service in even more places.''
Sprint PCS continues to negotiate affiliation agreements to bring Sprint PCS service to other key regions across the country. Sprint PCS affiliation agreements call for each affiliate company to construct an all-digital, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) wireless network, the majority of which will operate on the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) PCS licenses owned by Sprint PCS and Sprint Corporation [NYSE:FON - news]. Each company will operate and market their network as Sprint PCS service, leveraging the branding and marketing programs of Sprint PCS.
''The 10 affiliates we've announced to date, combined with our aggressive network construction and nationwide expansion reinforces our leadership position nationally and in key regions and states across the country,'' said Bernie Bianchino, chief business development officer for Sprint PCS. ''When our affiliates begin launching service, the benefits of our 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide service will be available in markets where wireless competition has never existed -- making consumers and businesses the real winners.''
Through these agreements, every affiliate will have the opportunity to benefit from Sprint PCS' relationships with key infrastructure and phone manufacturers, and national retail distribution partners. In addition, affiliates will be able to utilize the PCS network and customer care support assets of Sprint PCS including 24-hour network management and monitoring via the Sprint PCS National Network Operations Control Center; billing, voicemail and prepaid platforms; and Sprint PCS Customer Care.
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