After months of financing negotiations, 21st Century Telesis and Hughes Network Systems Inc. finally have signed a contract to build the first commercial wireless network in the United States using Hughes’ Personal Access Communications System technology.
According to the contract, both companies will design and install Hughes’ AIReach PACS telecommunications system in the 27 personal communications services markets where 21st Century has licenses. 21st Century originally wanted to launch the service last year, but several factors delayed the process.
First, 21st Century wanted to wait until the Federal Communications Commission delivered its C-block restructuring plan before moving ahead with any rollout. Then, German manufacturer Siemens Stromberg-Carlson-which many felt would be the primary marketer and systems integrator of PACS in North America-backed away from the technology. 21st Century then went to Hughes, but needed time to work out the vendor-financing details.
PACS technology is designed to provide voice quality comparable to landline phones over a wireless network, using high-quality speech coding, 21st Century said. It is a low-tier, low-power technology based on microcells that readily can be installed at relatively short distances from one another at costs far below that necessary for high-power PCS technologies. Also, it can be integrated into pocket phones using other accepted standards.
The technology was popular in theoretic circles two years ago when analysts praised its ability to provide longer battery life and superior voice quality. However, it hasn’t been implemented in any systems to date. In the interim, several fast-moving developments in other digital technologies have overtaken PACS’ popularity and can offer close to the same quality of service.
Proponents say other carriers merely are waiting to see how successful 21st Century is with PACS before making any decision to incorporate the technology themselves. As such, this launch with 21st Century is pivotal to the history of PACS.
In the past, some analysts have dismissed it, noting the technology missed its chance. Others feel the technology has potential in campus environments.
Still, the technology has backers in the PACS Provider Forum, which includes Hughes, Bellcore, General Communications Inc. and NEC America Inc.
Germantown, Md.-based Hughes supplies wireless, satellite and enterprise networking solutions. Its AIReach PACS system also supports high-speed data, local loop and mobile uses. The company said its goal is to provide a versatile platform for enhanced wireless services in the future.
21st Century owns PCS licenses in the C-, D- and F-blocks in 27 markets located in four regions covering 8 million pops. The licenses are in Indiana, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Nebraska.
