Cingular to shutter TDMA, analog networks in 2008

[ComicalMoodyDan]

Cingular to shutter TDMA, analog networks in 2008
By Kelly Hill
Mar 22, 2006

LAS VEGAS—Cingular Wireless L.L.C. plans to shut off both its TDMA and analog networks by 2008, chief executive officer Stan Sigman told attendees during a keynote address earlier this week at the TelecomNext conference.

Cingular spokesman Ritch Blasi noted that about 95 percent of Cingular’s traffic currently is over its GSM network and that the carrier has seen a natural transition of customers from TDMA to GSM since its acquisition of the former AT&T Wireless Services Inc. in 2004.

“It’s basically through people realizing that you’re getting cooler phones and better service off the GSM network,” said Blasi. “The pricing on the devices is better, and you’ve got some good offers out there on the market now.”

Cingular’s plans to turn off its analog network are nothing new; most observers expect carriers still operating such spectrally-inefficient networks to shutter those operations in 2008, which the sunset for the federal government’s requirements for analog networks. However, Cingular’s TDMA plans are more significant and pressing as the carrier is thought to still have several million TDMA customers on its network.

Cingular noted in mid-2004 that it needed around 8 megahertz of spectrum to comply with the government’s analog service requirements. The carrier added that its TDMA network required around 22 megahertz of spectrum to continue supporting its customer base.

http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=25920

[Andy]

I'm sure that Cingular could put the spectrum in good use in some areas that they currently still have allocated to TDMA and AMPS.

[MOTOhooligan]

That's not surprising at all. I'll bet there will be a made push towards the end of 2007 to get everyone on CDMA & GSM plans/handsets so that carriers can kill their AMPS & TDMA networks.

It is about that time, I suspect, that 4G networks will start popping up in the US. I don't think too many carriers are going to conver their 2G networks to 3G networks when 4G technology will be available.

I guess we'll just see how it goes.

[Fire14]

I am suprised that they don't shut off TDMA sooner since that wasn't a requirement by the FCC on a specific date, but I guess with the integration, buildouts going on in the country they need to give some time plus get the rest of the 5% off the network & maybe if they get them off sooner they will shut down TDMA sooner.

[AnthroMatt]

My company uses AWS TDMA phones. They suck and don't even work within parts of the Phoenix metro area.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

That's not surprising at all. I'll bet there will be a made push towards the end of 2007 to get everyone on CDMA & GSM plans/handsets so that carriers can kill their AMPS & TDMA networks.

It is about that time, I suspect, that 4G networks will start popping up in the US. I don't think too many carriers are going to conver their 2G networks to 3G networks when 4G technology will be available.

I guess we'll just see how it goes.

Don't let Giacomm hear you say that... LOL

-Jay

[ShoresGuy]

^My thoughts exactly throw them another line to post another long thread.....

[COtech]

Originally Posted by Fire14

I am suprised that they don't shut off TDMA sooner since that wasn't a requirement by the FCC on a specific date, but I guess with the integration, buildouts going on in the country they need to give some time plus get the rest of the 5% off the network & maybe if they get them off sooner they will shut down TDMA sooner.

ANSI-136 (former IS-136) TDMA is well integrated with AMPS. Three digital time shared channels sharing one AMPS 30kHz channel. ANSI-136 can switch into analog AND return to digital in the same call. For IS-95A, it's one way from CDMA to AMPS for the remainder of the call.

So turning down TDMA with AMPS in 2008 is labor saving!

COtech

[Andy]

Originally Posted by AnthroMatt

My company uses AWS TDMA phones. They suck and don't even work within parts of the Phoenix metro area.

Haha, wouldn't you consider this a waste of money then if service is so bad?
I guess AT&T must have had a really aweful network in the PHX area before the move to GSM if the TDMA network is so bad there. It was the opposite in my area.

[WiggyFife]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

Haha, wouldn't you consider this a waste of money then if service is so bad?
I guess AT&T must have had a really aweful network in the PHX area before the move to GSM if the TDMA network is so bad there. It was the opposite in my area.

I actually had a decent experience w/ AT&T TDMA for a while, but it did start degrading rapidly...

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by COtech

ANSI-136 (former IS-136) TDMA is well integrated with AMPS. Three digital time shared channels sharing one AMPS 30kHz channel. ANSI-136 can switch into analog AND return to digital in the same call. For IS-95A, it's one way from CDMA to AMPS for the remainder of the call.

So turning down TDMA with AMPS in 2008 is labor saving!

COtech

Thanks for explaining this to me, now I understand why they would do both at once.

I was actually suprised on Saturday I saw someone with an old Nokia AWE TDMA phone, and when I say old I mean old.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Thanks for explaining this to me, now I understand why they would do both at once.

I was actually suprised on Saturday I saw someone with an old Nokia AWE TDMA phone, and when I say old I mean old.

My dad was still using his ATT TDMA Nokia until he got his TREO 650 last year. He went from bag phone to the TDMA nokia about 1999 (and it was odd to see him w/ a bag phone in 99). He used that same TDMA Nokia until last year when he got his TREO 650. I imagine by the time he replaces it people will be looking at him and saying ... WoW! I haven't seen a TREO 650 in ages!

-Jay

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Thanks for explaining this to me, now I understand why they would do both at once.

I was actually suprised on Saturday I saw someone with an old Nokia AWE TDMA phone, and when I say old I mean old.

Another thing is that Cingular wants to minimize the giveaways. Waiting for the last minute to shut off TDMA means that they will have to "put pressure" on less people to switch to GSM when the final hour arrives. Putting pressure could mean to give away more GSM phones and specially discounted service plans for some people to get them to switch. Some people refuse to leave TDMA because of the super-great rate plan they are getting, in some cases a 1000 min plan for $39.99 with unlimited N&W and unlimited SMS for $2.99. I remember those kind of offers years ago. However, I suspect Cingular may prefer to let go of some of those customers since they probably cost Cingular money rather than generating a profit.

[Scrumhalf]

We have definitely seen a noticeable degradation in coverage with my wife's TDMA phone recently, in the last 2 months. Time to migrate, I suppose.....

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by bobolito

Another thing is that Cingular wants to minimize the giveaways. Waiting for the last minute to shut off TDMA means that they will have to "put pressure" on less people to switch to GSM when the final hour arrives. Putting pressure could mean to give away more GSM phones and specially discounted service plans for some people to get them to switch. Some people refuse to leave TDMA because of the super-great rate plan they are getting, in some cases a 1000 min plan for $39.99 with unlimited N&W and unlimited SMS for $2.99. I remember those kind of offers years ago. However, I suspect Cingular may prefer to let go of some of those customers since they probably cost Cingular money rather than generating a profit.

Very good point bobolito, I can see them wanting these customers off the "Good Plans" and onto more money maker plans for Cingular, and less giveaways they have to do or let the customers go makes finacial sense in the short term.