Latest News  |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SK Telecom's CDMA Mobile Telephone
Service Now Serves More Than 1,000,000 Customers The Pioneer of CDMA Technology, SK Telecom is Now the World's Largest CDMA Service Provider SEOUL, South Korea, April 23, 1997 -- SK Telecom, formerly Korea Mobile Telecom, announced today that it now serves 1,072,391subscribers on its CDMA (code division multiple access) cellular network. This is the first time a CDMA service provider has exceeded one million subscribers. SK Telecom launched the world's first CDMA-based telephone service to metropolitan Seoul in January 1996. By July 1996, SK Telecom had established a customer base of over 100,000 subscribers to the CDMA service. By November, the total number of subscribers had increased to 500,000 and within four months that number had doubled to more than one million CDMA subscribers. "This is a very exciting time for us," said Dr. Jung Uck Seo, President of SK Telecom. "Our investments in research and development as well our commitment to the highest level of customer service, have rendered SK Telecom the world leader in CDMA technology and service." SK Telecom's customer base continues to grow at an explosive pace. "We are signing up an additional 6,000 subscribers daily to our CDMA network," said President Seo. "At this rate, we expect to have more than 2 million CDMA subscribers by October." SK Telecom is also involved in the international cellular marketplace. "Many countries have demonstrated significant interest in SK Telecom's CDMA service," said President Seo. "We are currently exploring opportunities in Brazil, China, Thailand and Vietnam." In addition, SK Telecom has perfected the technology to enable 1.7 GHz scale personal communication service (PCS) over its CDMA network. It has also begun development of FPLMTS, the next generation of mobile communications.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | Launch Date | City | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | April 9, 1997 | Little Rock, AR | Feb. 25, 1997 |
| Philadelphia, PA | April 3, 1997 | Tulsa, OK | Feb. 20, 1997 |
| Kansas City Metropolitan Area | April 2, 1997 | Oklahoma City, OK | Feb. 20, 1997 |
| Denver, CO | March 31, 1997 | Salt Lake City, UT | Jan. 21, 1997 |
| Boulder, CO | March 31, 1997 | Pittsburgh, PA | Dec. 30, 1996 |
| Rochester, NY | March 18, 1997 | Syracuse, NY | Dec. 30, 1996 |
| Wichita, KS | March 11, 1997 | Albany, NY | Dec. 27, 1996 |
| Louisville, KY | March 6, 1997 | San Diego, CA | Dec. 27, 1996 |
| McAllen, TX | Feb. 25, 1997 | Milwaukee, WI | Dec. 19, 1996 |
| Brownsville, TX | Feb. 25, 1997 | Portland, OR | Dec. 18, 1996 |
| Harlingen, TX | Feb. 25, 1997 | Eugene, OR | Dec. 18, 1996 |
| Des Moines, IA | Feb. 25, 1997 | Vancouver, WA | Dec. 18, 1996 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Feb. 25, 1997 | Spokane, WA | Dec. 16, 1996 |
| Iowa City, IA | Feb. 25, 1997 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | Dec. 16, 1996 |
| Ames, IA | Feb. 25, 1997 | Fresno, CA | Dec. 16, 1996 |
Nortel and Lucent Technologies are providing the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network infrastructure equipment for the Sprint PCS network.
PrimeCo Launches Network in Mobile, Ala.
Dallas, TX, April 2, 1997 -- PrimeCo Personal Communications, L.P., launched its PCS network in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday, March 22, bringing to 18 the number of major cities served by PrimeCo's digital wireless network.
PrimeCo launched 15 of its markets in November 1996, then opened its Austin, Texas, market in December and its Maui, Hawaii, market early this year. The Alabama launch marks the second new market to open for PrimeCo in 1997. The network in Mobile and Baldwin Counties in southern Alabama is part of the company's Jacksonville, Fla., market and serves a potential 380,000 customers.
"We are delighted to bring the first completely digital wireless service to southern Alabama," said Ben Scott, PrimeCo's president and chief executive officer. "Our 1996 launch was just the beginning. We continue to rapidly expand our coverage to better serve our customers."
The Mobile market launched in a manner similar to previous PrimeCo launches, with employees and the company conducting community service activities to celebrate the arrival in a new market. "We're a people-oriented company, committed to the communities we serve," said Claude Ellison, PrimeCo's vice president and general manager of the Mobile area market.
Lucent Technologies provided the network infrastructure for the Mobile service area. Mobile is the 10th PrimeCo city to use Lucent Technologies' end-to-end PCS wireless network as part of a multimillion dollar agreement signed in 1995.
Sprint PCS(SM) Launches Advanced Wireless Service in Philadelphia Region
Invites Residents and Businesses to 'Make a Call on Us' and Experience Dramatic Improvements Over Cellular and Other Wireless Services
Philadelphia, April 2, 1997 -- Sprint PCS ushered in a new era of wireless communication today, announcing the launch of its PCS, or Personal Communication Services, for consumers and businesses in the greater Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region ­ the largest market to launch the Sprint PCS service to date.
"We're not just providing consumers with a better phone, we're providing them with a better connection that's more clear, more affordable and more secure than conventional cellular services. We want people to experience that quality for themselves, so we're inviting them to make a call on us at any of our Sprint PCS stores in the area. And in celebration of our launch, we are offering consumers triple the minutes on any service plan when they activate a phone between now and May 31. As an added benefit, any customer who activates phone and service with Sprint PCS receives a 30 day money back guarantee."
Philadelphia is the largest city to begin wireless service on the Sprint PCS network, which will be America's first 100-percent digital, 100-percent PCS, single-technology nationwide wireless network when fully deployed this year. Other cities where Sprint PCS has launched service include: San Diego and Fresno, Calif.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Portland, Ore.; Albany, Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Spokane, Wash.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla.; Little Rock, Ark.; Des Moines, Iowa; Wichita, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Denver, Co.; the Rio Grande Valley in Texas; and Kansas City.
Remaining markets, including Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Antonio, San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Minneapolis/ St. Paul, Seattle, and New York, will launch in the first half of 1997. When this first phase of launch is completed this year, Sprint PCS service will be available in 65 cities coast-to-coast, including 35 of the top 50 U.S. markets, offering consumers and businesses improved call quality, reliability and features superior to today's other wireless services. Sprint PCS, through its affiliate Sprint Spectrum/APC, launched the country's first PCS service in November 1995 in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore area.
Lucent wins U S West wireless pact
MURRAY HILL, N.J., April 30, 1997 -- Lucent Technologies Inc has been awarded a $500 million contract by U S West Communications Group for a new generation of wireless communications equipment, the companies said Wednesday.
The multi-year deal could grow to more than $1 billion for Lucent as the network is built out in U S West's 14-state service regions, U S West said.
Lucent said it had won $178 million in additional contracts with network operators in the United States and Korea to provide digital wireless network equipment based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.
In Korea, Lucent said, a consortium with Hanwha Telecommunications Co Ltd was awarded a $93 million contract by Hansol PCS, one of Korea's three licensed nationwide Personal Communications Services (PCS) operators, to supply and install a CDMA-based PCS network.
Hansol PCS is a consortium led by Hansol Paper Co.
In the United States, Frontier Cellular, a unit of Frontier Corp, awarded Lucent $85 million over three years to convert networks in upstate New York to digital service using CDMA technology, Lucent said.
Lucent will provide U S West with the CDMA technology-based Personal Communication Services hardware, including Lucent 5ESS switching systems, base stations and service circuit nodes, and the software needed to build, maintain and monitor the planned PCS networks.
The contract represents Lucent's first CDMA supply deal with U S West. Lucent has previously announced large-scale deals to supply at least part of each of the major PCS networks now in operation in the United States.
Lucent supplies about 60 percent of all U.S.-based CDMA equipment, a company spokeswoman said.
The latest pact includes provisions for possible purchase by U S WEST of fixed wireless loop capabilities from Lucent. Such technology is an alternative means of supplying local phone service in areas where it is uneconomical to install conventional telephone lines, such as rural regions.
"The fixed wireless capabilities of our product will provide U S West Communications with a wide range of tools to package powerful new customer offerings," said Gary Morgan, Lucent regional vice president.
The Korean installation is scheduled to begin in mid-May, with service on the new network scheduled to begin next January.
The Hansol PCS contract is the second CDMA wirless equipment win in Korea for Lucent in six months. Last October Lucent clinched a $71 million contact from Shinsegi Telecomm Inc.
U S West Awards Lucent Technologies $500 Million Contract as PCS equipment Provider - Growth Potential Worth Placed at More Than One Billion Dollars
Denver, April 30, 1997 -- U S WEST Communications Group today announced it has awarded a $500 million contract to lucent Technologies for Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) equipment and products for next generation PCS wireless networks to be built in its 14-state region. The multi-year agreement could grow to more than $1 billion for Lucent as the network is built out, U S WEST Communications said.
Lucent will provide U S WEST Communications with the CDMA technology-based PCS (Personal Communication Services) hardware, including Lucent 5ESS switching systems, base stations, and service circuit nodes, and the software needed to build, maintain, and monitor the planned PCS networks.
The agreement also includes provisions for possible purchase by U S WEST Communications of fixed wireless loop capabilities from Lucent Technologies. "The fixed wireless capabilities of our product will provide U S WEST Communications with a wide range of tools to package powerful new customer offerings," said Gary Morgan, Lucent Technologies regional vice president.
"We are extremely excited about working with Lucent Technologies to bring CDMA-based PCS service to our customers," said Peter Mannetti, vice president and general manager, U S WEST Wireless Communications. "Lucent has a great track record and I believe we have selected the right technology to base our PCS networks on and the right vendor to deploy it."
"We've established and enviable track record in building and deploying CDMA PCS networks," said Gerry Butters, Lucent Technologies president, North America Region. "We are proud of the high quality infrastructure equipment and network management systems we will provide to U S WEST Communications for it to offer its customers the highest quality wireless communications available. It is an honor for Lucent to have been chosen as U S WEST Communications' supplier for these networks."
Sony Launches "Digital Dream" Family of Next-Generation CDMA Handsets
Sony Electronics' Wireless Telecommunications Company (WTC) announced a lineup of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) handsets, including the first dual band dual mode (PCS and cellular) digital phone.
New models include the CM-S1100 1.9 Ghz CDMA PCS phone, the CM-M3100 dual mode 800 Mhz CDMA/AMPS phone, and the CM-D1200 dual band dual mode 1.9 Ghz CDMA PCS/800 Mhz AMPS phone.
"Today's introduction of the 'Digital Dream' family of CDMA products brings significant improvements in usability as well as greater convenience and variety to the digital handset marketplace," said Yutaka Sato, president of Sony Electronics' Wireless Telecommunications Company.
"Building upon Sony's industry-leading design and manufacturing expertise, and by including our unique Jog Dial control, we are taking a major step in establishing CDMA as the preeminent wireless communications standard and Sony as the major provider of digital handsets to carriers and consumers alike."
Noting that on January 27, 1997, QUALCOMM Personal Electronics, the manufacturing joint venture between Sony Electronics Inc. and QUALCOMM Incorporated, shipped its one millionth handset, Sato continued:
"In 1996 we participated in the launches of nearly a dozen CDMA systems here and abroad. In 1997 we'll see full-scale deployment of CDMA on a nationwide basis. Our 'Digital Dream' lineup will play a key role in supporting CDMA market expansion by delivering enhanced network features like caller ID, short messaging, voice mail alert, and over-the-air activation, that are so important to end-users. And, we expect that the addition of an entirely new product, the industry's first dual band, dual mode PCS phone, will enable PCS carriers to accelerate their market penetration."
The new phones incorporate Sony's easy-to-use jog dial function, which places a host of features at the tip of a finger. The ergonomic dial is a control on the side of the phone which allows users to access a variety of features ­ including memory locations, volume, security settings, and all other user-programmable functions ­ by simply turning and pressing the dial. To place a call, just locate the number in the phone memory and press the dial. The Jog Dial control makes the phone fast and easy to operate and eliminates the need for complicated key sequences or menu trees to activate features.
Lucent Technologies Awarded US$93 Million Contract by Hansol PCS Telecom to Supply PCS CDMA Network in Korea
Seoul, South Korea, April 30, 1997 -- Lucent Technologies today announced that it and Hanwha Telecommunications Co. Ltd. have been awarded a US$93 million contract by Hansol PCS Telecom, one of Korea's three licensed nation-wide Personal Communications Services (PCS) operators, to supply and install a PCS Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network. The network will serve the areas of Pusan and Taegu, Korea's second and third largest cities respectively, and the rest of the Kyungsang province.
Under the contract, Lucent Technologies will supply two units of the 5ESS®2000 Switch-based Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and, together with Hanwha, will supply over 300 base stations (outdoor version).
Installation is scheduled to start in mid-May with service on the new network targeted to being in January 1998, after undergoing a system field trial in October this year.
"The Hansol PCS contract marks another important milestone for Lucent, as this is not only our first PCS CDMA win outside the United States but also one of the largest CDMA contracts outside North America," said Dave Allan, president of Lucent Technologies Korea Ltd.
"The peerless quality of Lucent's PCS system and technology, which commands a leading market position in the United States, will more than meet the customer's needs in terms of quality of system performance and speed of implementation," Allan added.
Hansol's president, Mr. Jung Yong-moon, said, "We are very pleased to have found a good partner in Lucent Technologies, who has an excellent track record as a proven equipment and service provider. Quality is of primary importance to Hansol as we strongly believe that our subscribers should have the best that the market can offer."
The Hansol PCS contract is the second CDMA win in Korea for Lucent Technologies in six months. Last October, Lucent Technologies clinched a US$71 million contract from Shinsegi Telecomm Inc. to supply and install a CDMA wireless network in Pusan and Kyungnam.
Elsewhere in the Asia/Pacific region, Lucent Technologies' CDMA successes include Thailand's Total Access Communication (Public) Company Limited, which will have the country's first commercial CDMA wireless network covering Bangkok and the central region of Thailand, Indonesia's P.T. Komunikasi Selular Indonesia (Komselindo), whose US$105 million contract will make it Indonesia's first commercial CDMA network operator, and the Philippines' Pilipino Telephone Corporation (PILTEL), whose US$23 million CDMA network will cover the northern and southern areas of the island of Luzon.
In North America, Lucent Technologies supplies more than 60 percent of all CDMA infrastructure equipment for PCS networks, and is the only vendor to win a share of equipment contracts for each of the largest U.S. PCS networks. These include PrimeCo Personal Communications, Sprint PCS, NextWave, General Wireless Inc., Canada's Clearnet, and cellular carriers like GTE and Bell Atlantic/Nynex Mobil.
WirelessNorth Selects Motorola CDMA Equipment for Deployment of PCS in Four North Central States
WirelessNorth, Plymouth, MN, has selected Motorola Pan American Wireless Infrastructure Division (PWID) to provision about $35 million in digital code division multiple access (CDMA) equipment to support a personal communication services (PCS) offering throughout the Midwest.
WirelessNorth will begin rolling out initial PCS sites mid-to-late 1997, offering wireless telephone communication to business and residential customers located in parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. This targeted coverage area incorporates about 110,000 square miles and has a potential customer population of 2.4 million.
QUALCOMM Announces $300 Million Agreement to Supply CDMA Digital Handsets to Telecom Great Wall Development Company
Agreement One of the Largest International Sales of CDMA Subscriber Equipment
Beijing, China, April 29, 1997 -- QUALCOMM Incorporated today announced it has signed a four-year agreement valued at over $300 million with an affiliate of Telecom Great Wall Development Company of Beijing for the purchase of QUALCOMM-branded Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital phones. Beginning in the second half of 1997, Telecom Great Wall is expected to initially take deliveries of QUALCOMM's new 800 MHz, QCP-820 dual mode CDMA digital phones, the first in a series of handset models planned for distribution throughout the People's Republic of China.
QUALCOMM's handsets are field proven in deployments worldwide with existing systems from every CDMA infrastructure manufacturer. As a result, Telecom Great Wall is expected to rapidly deploy commercial service to cities throughout China. This agreement demonstrates the expanding market for CDMA around the world and the expanding market for QUALCOMM products.
Earlier this year, QUALCOMM announced four new phones, including the world's smallest and lightest CDMA digital phone, the "Q" phone, as well as the QCP-1920 and the QCP-2700 the first CDMA/analog dual band, dual mode phone. This first major CDMA phone contract in China, potentially one of the largest wireless markets in the world, add further momentum to QUALCOMM's position as the leading supplier of CDMA subscriber equipment.
"The explosive growth in China's wireless marketplace has created an increasing demand for high quality wireless services that only QUALCOMM's CDMA digital technology can provide," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, president of QUALCOMM's Subscriber Products Division.
"Our contract with Telecom Great Wall marks one of the largest international sales of CDMA digital subscriber equipment to date, and demonstrates QUALCOMM and QUALCOMM Personal Electronics' continued industry leading positions as the world's largest supplier and manufacturer of CDMA digital phones," Dr. Jacobs said.
"In choosing QUALCOMM's sleek, new CDMA digital handsets, our wireless customers will have all the unparalleled advantage that CDMA technology delivers from an attractive, lightweight, easy-to-use phone," said Kang Jian, president of Telecom Great Wall Development Company, Beijing and USA. "Our agreement with QUALCOMM ensures that the Great Wall Consortium will quickly be able to meet consumer demand this year, and continue to meet the growing demand into the future.
ANADIGICS' CDMA Driver Amplifier IC Reduces Space Requirements
Warren, NJ, April 22, 1997 -- ANADIGICS, Inc. of Warren, NJ has introduced a low cost driver amplifier GaAs MMIC for use with PCS 1900 MHz CDMA applications. This GaAs IC serves as a core active device building block for 1850 to 1910 MHz CDMA cellular phone transmitter functions. This fully integrated, low-cost GaAs MMIC, the AWD1900, is designed to accommodate the strict linearity requirements of the CDMA standard. The AWD1900 is an off-the-shelf solution that will significantly reduce development time.
The AWD1900 offers increased functionality compared to other drivers on the market. The devise is composed of a three-stage Class A GaAs MESFET cascaded amplifier, an output SPDT switch and an integrated one bit 15 dB attenuator. The AWD1900 features switchable dual outputs, a typical ACPR of 40 dBc at an output power of 10.5 dBm. The device also provides a stepped gain function of 32 dB/17 dB, and operates from a 5V supply while drawing less than 100 mA.
The AWD1900 is smaller than competing solutions and also reduces the number and size of external components thus saving cost and real estate.
Code Division Multiple Access, operating within the PCS frequency range, is an access method applied in digital cellular systems. The CDMA signal must be transmitted in a linear fashion to maintain phase-shift keying modulation and to prevent spectral regrowth into adjacent channels. Also, adjacent channel power rejection requires linear power amplifier operation at lower power levels while maintaining high DC to RF conversion efficiency to maximize battery life. To optimize linearity, a high performance driver amplifier is critical.
In addition to reduced space requirements, this GaAs MMIC solution provides an economic alternative to discrete and hybrid amplifiers. The AWD1900 is packaged in a 28 pin SSOP package. It is manufactured using ANADIGICS' high volume GaAs MESFET technology, resulting in a low cost and space efficient solution compared to hybrid modules and discrete designs.
The AWD1900 is manufactured in the company's state-of-the-art ISO 9001 certified facility in New Jersey, and is 100% tested at DC and RF before shipping to maximize reliability.
The AWD1900 is available at $5 in quantities of 100,000.
Microwave Power Devices, Inc. Delivers Its 10,000th PCS-CDMA Amplifier
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., April 21, 1997 -- Microwave Power Devices, Inc. today announced the delivery of its 10,000th highly linear, single channel PCS-CDMA amplifier to Lucent Technologies. These amplifiers, which were designed and continue to be produced with high volume manufacturing techniques by MPDI, are used in Lucent's PCS-CDMA wireless telecommunications base stations.
Microwave Power Devices is one of the foremost worldwide suppliers of state-of-the-art amplifiers -- an integral component of wireless telecommunications base stations -- used to increase the power of radio frequency and microwave signals with low distortion. These amplifiers have proven to be flexible, reliable and dependable, having been utilized extensively in distinctive environments operating over a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions in base stations throughout the world.
In addition, Microwave Power Devices has designed, produced and delivered over 2,500 of its highly linear, feed-forward, multi-channel, Cellular-CDMA amplifiers, with LG Information and Communications, Ltd. (LGIC) being the Company's predominant customer. Initial shipments of a recently received follow-on order with LGIC began in March 1997.
Edward J. Shubel, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "We are proud of the confidence that Lucent Technologies and LGIC have demonstrated in our amplifiers. Beyond our commitment to manufacturing quality products and providing superior service and support, this confidence reflects the critical importance we place on understanding the particular and special needs of our customers, and working closely with them during design, installation and implementation."
QUALCOMM Responds to Misleading Press Release
San Diego, April 16, 1997 -- QUALCOMM incorporated today responded to a misleading press release issued by Ericsson which implied that QUALCOMM's unfair competition and related claims had been dismissed on the merits by the federal court in San Diego. The San Diego court's order, publicly filed on April 9, 1997, makes clear that the dismissal is for the purpose of consolidating QUALCOMM's claims with Ericsson's lawsuit against QUALCOMM pending in federal court in Marshall, Texas and states "no apparent bar exists to QUALCOMM pursuing the claims alleged in this case in the Texas action." The Court decided to dismiss the case and require QUALCOMM to bring its claims in Texas for reasons of judicial economy. The court reasoned: "To proceed with this complex and expensive litigation in multiple forums would waste the resources of both parties and this Court."
"Ericsson's misleading press release, which incorrectly characterizes a week-old procedural ruling, and the calculated effect it would have on QUALCOMM's stock confirms what is alleged in our complain: Ericsson appears intent on injuring QUALCOMM and hindering the deployment of the Company's CDMA technology and products in any way that it can," said Steve Altman, QUALCOMM's senior vice president and general counsel. "Ericsson's latest action is further confirmation that QUALCOMM's claims of unfair competition are well taken and will form another element of our proof and damages. The Court's ruling has no bearing on Ericsson's claims against QUALCOMM or on the merits of QUALCOMM's claims against Ericsson, and we remain confident that QUALCOMM will prevail in both disputes.
Motorola wins $50 million CDMA PCS contract from CFW LED Wireless Consortium
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., April 15, 1997 -- Motorola, Inc.'s Pan American Wireless Infrastructure Division (PWID) has signed a contract to supply approximately $50 million in digital Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) equipment to the Virginia PCS Alliance, L.C. (Alliance). CFW Communications Company, as managing partner for the Alliance, will offer CDMA PCS (Personal Communications Service) service to approximately 1.5 million people located throughout central and western Virginia.
As part of the contract with the Alliance, Motorola PWID will install its state-of-the-art SC™ family of base stations, including the SC 601, the industry's first self-contained CDMA microcellular base station; the compact, self-contained SC 604, and the versatile SC 4850. Motorola's high-capacity EMX(R) (Electronic Mobile Exchange) 2500 mobile switch also will be utilized in the networks, which will operate at 1.9 GHz.
CFW expects to provide services over the PCS network in initial market areas including the cities of Charlottesville, Danville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester, Virginia in the second half of 1997.
In addition, as part of the $50 million supply agreement, Motorola PWID will replace current analog equipment operating at 800 MHz with its NAMPS (Narrowband Advanced Mobile Phone Service) equipment. CFW will deploy NAMPS in the areas serviced by its majority-owned Virginia RSA6 Cellular Partnership in the second half of 1997.
"Subscribers in central and western Virginia will soon experience the many benefits of CDMA technology, including enhanced call quality, privacy and a host of integrated features," said James S. Quarforth, president and CEO of CFW and chairman of the Alliance. "We chose to work with Motorola on these networks because of its extensive experience in wireless communications and its leadership in delivering CDMA technology."
"We are extremely pleased that the Alliance selected Motorola's CDMA solution," said Jack Finlayson, corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola's PWID. "CDMA technology will allow CFW and the Alliance to provide its customers with the finest wireless service available in the market. We look forward to a long and successful relationship."
CFW is a diversified communications company that provides a broad range of products and services to business and residential customers in Virginia, including local telephone, cellular and paging, directory assistance, competitive access, local internet access, and wireline and wireless cable television.
The Virginia PCS Alliance is a consortium of ten independent telephone companies including CFW Communications Company and R & B Communications, Inc., the two largest shareholders; Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative; Hardy Telecommunications, Inc.; Highland Telephone Cooperative; MGW Communications, Inc.; New Hope Telephone Cooperative; North River Telephone Cooperative; Pembroke Telephone Cooperative, and Peoples Mutual Telephone Company.
Tellabs to Deploy MartisDXX System in CDMA Network in China - Contract Marks a Double First for Tellabs
LISLE, Ill., April 10, 1997 -- Tellabs has won a contract to supply its MartisDXX™ managed access and transport network system to the Beijing Telecom Great Wall Mobile Network. The network is based on advanced CDMA (code division multiple access) technology and is expected to enter commercial service toward the end of 1997.
The MartisDXX system will be deployed in the transport portion of the network to help the Beijing Telecom Great Wall Mobile Network deliver advanced and reliable digital wireless services in Beijing, China. It will also enable real-time network performance monitoring and provide a high level of protection, ensuring high network availability.
"The contract marks a double first for Tellabs," said Ray Cheung, Tellabs vice president, Asia Pacific. "Not only is it Tellabs' first MartisDXX system win in China, it is also the first time the system has been commercially deployed in a CDMA network.
"The MartisDXX system has already proved to be an effective transport and access solution in GSM (global standard for mobile) digital wireless networks. This contract demonstrates further the system's effectiveness irrespective of the radio technology used."
Cheung pointed out that CDMA technology makes efficient use of radio spectrum to derive greater capacity from a relatively small number of radio base stations compared with other wireless technologies. "This makes it particularly important to have high-quality network management and network resilience," he continued.
"The MartisDXX system fulfills these needs, and also helps optimize network capacity through traffic grooming and concentration.
"Together, the MartisDXX system and the CDMA radio system provide a cost-effective route to achieving the maximum capacity from the network and providing high-quality services to its subscribers. The Tellabs system is ideal for the rapidly expanding telecommunications market in China as it allows operators to get their networks up and running quickly and provide reliable services under the control of a centralized network management facility."
By combining intelligent hardware with centralized network management software, the MartisDXX system enables the rapid deployment and reconfiguration of telecommunications transport and access networks containing thousands of elements. It provides a single platform for multiple services in business services networks and an efficient transport network for cellular and personal communications applications.
Beijing Telecom Great Wall Mobile Network is a cooperative network that will deliver cellular services in Beijing.
QUALCOMM Signs Agreement with Kokusai Electric Company for Subscriber Products License
Japanese Manufacturer Will Help Meet Japanese Demand for CDMA Products
San Diego, April 11, 1997 -- QUALCOMM Incorporated today announced signing of a multi-million dollar royalty-bearing license agreement with Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. Under terms of the agreement, Kokusai has been granted a patent and technical license to manufacture and sell Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) subscriber products.
"Kokusai will help meet the demand for CDMA products that will result from Japan's adoption of CDMA as the next generation of digital wireless communications technology," said Steve Altman, senior vice president and general manager of QUALCOMM's Technology Transfer Division. "With this agreement, Japanese manufacturers are firmly committed to the path of CDMA as it moves to become the leading standard in the world."
Recently, Japanese government and service providers have moved forward with adoption of CDMA as the next generation of digital wireless communications to meet the expected growth and demand in wireless communications.
Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, Japan, manufactures, markets and sells mobile and wireless communications equipment and semiconductor-related products, including memory chips and electronic components.
DSP Communications Signs CDMA Agreement with Kenwood
DSPC to provide IS-95 Based CDMA chip sets to Kenwood CDMA alliance evolves from long lasting PDC partnership
Cupertino, Calif., April 8, 1997 -- DSP Communications, Inc. today announced that is has signed a strategic agreement with Kenwood for IS-95 based Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) subscriber equipment.
Under the terms of the agreement, DSPC will provide Kenwood with IS-95 baseband processor chip sets to be used in dual mode CDMA/Analog subscriber terminals offering both 8 kbps QCELP and EVRC vocoders.
Kenwood originally teamed with DSPC in the early 1990's for the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) market. Since then, DSPC has shipped several generations of PCD chip sets to Kenwood including 5V, 3V, and half rate vocoder products. With DSPC as its partner, Kenwood has become a key supplier of PDC phones for the Japanese market. Kenwood now plans a similar strategy for its CDMA business and has chosen DSPC as its chip set supplier for the second time.
"Kenwood is pleased to team with DSPC for CDMA", said T. Kido, Director of R&D of Kenwood. "The migration into CDMA business with DSPC was a natural one. We are confident that DSPC will continue to offer high quality products along with the support required for successful integration and handset evolution. Together with DSPC, we anticipate prosperity in Japan's emerging CDMA market."
"DSPC is honored to strengthen our alliance with Kenwood," said Dr. Joseph Perl, Executive Vice President of DSPC. "Kenwood has been a top player in Japan's cellular market, and we believe they will continue to rank high in the unfolding CDMA market. We are committed to supporting Kenwood in offering competitive, yet innovative and feature packed handsets."
The chip sets that DSPC will supply to Kenwood will provide full baseband processing for IS-95 based dual mode CDMA/Analog handsets. For cellular, personal communications services (PCS), and wireless local loop (WLL) applications, the chip set offers a compact solution for hand-held, mobile units. Connected through simple interface to the RF/IF unit, hose micro-controller, audio codec, keypad, and LCD, DSPC's CDMA ship set completes the main hardware required for a mobile terminal. CDMA chip set functionality includes: CDMA speech encoding/decoding, channel encoding/decoding, interleaving/de-interleaving, spreading/despreading, and CDMA modulator and modem algorithms.
The agreement with Kenwood marks the expansion of DSPC's already successful Japanese business. The emergence of CDMA within the Asian market and the continuation of a well established relationship to target this area are an instrumental combination for DSPC and Kenwood. "We are pleased to broaden our partnership with Kenwood and anticipate the CDMA ramp-up that we will face together," said Arnon Kohavi, VP Business Development of DSPC.
Lucent Technologies Participates in Wideband CDMA Development for NTT DoCoMo
Tokyo, Japan, April 3, 1997 -- Lucent Technologies today announced that it is among the vendors chosen to develop and build a prototype for a next generation Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) wireless system for NTT DoCoMo - the largest wireless service provider in Japan.
The system will be based on CDMA technology and, like all next generation systems, will have broad bandwidth for multimedia capabilities including high speed data transmission. Commercialization of this system will provide wireless voice, data, and video services in Japan's newly allocated frequency spectrum, as well as intelligent networking capability. With deployment scheduled for the turn of the century, NTT DoCoMo is expected to be the first wireless service provider in the world to deploy a next generation system.
"We are excited to bring our extensive experience in the wireless arena to work with NTT DoCoMo to develop this system, and we have dedicated an experienced team backed by Bell Labs to work on the project," said Ken Trojniar, executive director product and marketing management, Lucent Technologies. "This is a significant opportunity for Lucent to work with a leading service provider to develop new technologies and build systems that satisfy their requirements."