Marconi Picks Up E911 Contract

Marconi Corporation has signed a multi-year contract with the USA based CDMA carrier, MetroPCS to provide a turnkey solution that supports the transition from Phase I to Phase II E911 services and compliance standards. E911 is a new standard designed to help emergency services pinpoint the location of callers within mobile 'cells'.

MetroPCS offers service in and around the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Miami, Sacramento and San Francisco and is one of the first wireless operators to deploy an all-digital network based on CDMA 2000 1XRTT.

Using proven and proprietary methods and processes, Marconi's uniquely qualified E911 Professional Services team will deliver an array of services including deployment, site testing diagnostics, accuracy improvement and compliance testing to cell sites in Florida, Georgia and California. In addition, the program will benefit from access to planning and custom E911 tools to improve the accuracy and reliability of the location determination of mobile devices while also improving the efficiency of deployment and maintenance processes.

"While increased public safety is the critical need driving E911 services, our solutions also enable service providers to quickly deploy these services while meeting FCC guidelines and timetables, thereby avoiding the large fines that can occur. Service providers' reliance on our proven expertise allows them to focus on other growth and quality aspects of their network and services," said Chip Wagner, head of Marconi's Wireless Business Unit. "In addition, through improving location-based technology, we are able to help service providers in providing customers value-added services. We look forward to working with an exceptional company such as MetroPCS to bring these essential services to their customers."

Posted to the site on 15th January 2004