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Nokia GSM 1900 Infrastructure and Handsets are Foundation of Aerial Communications’ PCS Launch
March 27, 1997
Nokia, the world’s second largest supplier of GSM-based digital networks and a global leader in wireless data terminals and infrastructure, announced that its first total system solution (including switching equipment) for commercial PCS will come on-line today in Columbus, Ohio. The all-digital GSM 1900 system is owned and operated by Chicago-based Aerial Communications. In the coming months, Aerial will launch networks, provided by Nokia, in five other U.S. markets, including Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Pittsburgh and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Orlando.
The Aerial Communications launch in Columbus is an important milestone in Nokia’s continued global leadership in GSM-based PCS system solutions. Nokia supplies GSM-based systems to 54 operators in 31 countries, including Western Wireless (base stations) in the United States.
In 1996, Nokia was selected as the sole infrastructure supplier for the initial build-out of Aerial’s PCS network. Nokia’s leading radio and switching technology and dedicated engineering implementation teams led to the deployment of the commercial system in less than one year from the contract. Nokia has supplied Aerial with a complete GSM 1900 network, including switching centers, base stations, base station controllers, short messaging systems, as well as Enhanced Full Rate (EFR) wireless handsets.
“We believe that our partnership with Aerial Communications will be an important part of the adoption of digital wireless service in the United States,” said Jyrki Salo, president of Nokia’s infrastructure business group in the Americas. “The world’s fastest growing GSM operators in the world are Nokia customers, and Nokia is well positioned to create leading-edge mobile services and offer the functionalities and features of a world-class digital network.”
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) has been selected by nearly 230 operators in 115 countries with more than 172 networks in 97 countries currently in operation. With more than 35 million users today, GSM is the dominant digital standard in the world.
Aerial Communications [NASDAQ:AERL], headquartered in Chicago, holds licenses to provide PCS service in areas covering 27.3 million of the U.S. population. Managed by some of the top professionals in the wireless industry, Aerial has emerged as a leader in PCS service and technology. As a majority-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a $1 billion-a-year telecommunications company based in Chicago, Aerial has the strength and financial backing to continue to compete successfully in the PCS arena.
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