MONTVALE, N.J.-Geotek Communications Inc. is beta testing its recently constructed Philadelphia spread spectrum network to offer integrated digital radio service for commercial fleet management and mobile work groups.
“It’s not completely built out, but will be within a month or so,” said Yaron Eitan, Geotek president and chief executive officer. Commercial service should begin this summer. Geotek intends to attract small and mid-size companies as customers.
Other sites are under construction along the Northeast Corridor, in line with plans to expand wide area coverage in Norfolk, Va., Washington D.C.-Baltimore, Md., New York, Boston and Hartford, Conn.
In two years, Geotek hopes to have its Frequency Hopping Multiple Access network operating in 35 major U.S. markets. The technology operates at 900 MHz. In an average city, the network would consist of one macrocell with three to 10 sectors, and five to 20 microsites, covering an area up to 70 miles in diameter, the company said.
Geotek also recently received new funding, including a $10 million investment by an affiliate of Anam Industrial Co., a leading semiconductor packaging company. Geotek issued Anam $10 million in preferred stock, convertible into common shares of the company at $11.75 per share with a 7 percent dividend payable in cash or common stock for up to five years. In addition, Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc. and Toronto Dominion Bank agreed in principle to invest $10 million in Geotek.
