There are new cellular antennas and equipment on BellSouth's microwave tower at Edisto Beach SC as of approximately May 2005. However, there is no GSM coverage (Cingular and Suncom phones show no GSM network available). I've called Cingular Tech Support 4 times over the last two months regarding this. Their maps show the tower as being theirs, that it is operational and not reporting any trouble, yet there coverage map shows no coverage. No one is able to explain what is going on.

My conclusion is that the tower is ready-to-go, but for some reason they have not activated it for us by Cingular customers. (Maybe awaiting FCC approval?) The last tech support guy agreed, but he had no idea who I could call to find out what is going on. Four months seems like an awfully long time to have a tower up and running without making it available, especially since they have now missed the summer tourist season.

Does anyone know anything about this tower? (The tower number is 072P0251.) Is there anyone within the Cingular organization that could tell me the status? I am still carrying an analog phone with me since that is the only decent coverage (except for very marginal Verizonicon and Alltel). I'd like to know what's going on so that I can change out my family's three TDMA/Analog phones for GSM.

Thanks!