High-Speed Wireless Data Service Trials Underway In Jackson,
Baton Rouge, and Memphis
CLINTON, Miss. (March 7, 2000) - MCI WorldCom today announced
an initial step in bringing a competitive alternative for high-speed
data services to customers in markets that lack a speedy option for
Internet and broadband services. The market trials underway in Jackson,
Miss., Baton Rouge, La., and Memphis, Tenn., mark the start of MCI
WorldCom's "fixed wireless" strategy to offer two-way, high-speed
access to customers less likely to be touched by the cable broadband
monopolies and the "Mega-Bell" local phone companies.
"Our wireless strategy makes perfect sense in markets where
customers have little, if any, choice for high-speed connectivity,"
said John Stupka, President of MCI WorldCom Wireless Solutions. "With
the technology we have in place, wireless lets us immediately serve
residential and business customers in these markets - which is exactly
what we're doing today."
The Jackson, Baton Rouge, and Memphis service trials are an initial
step of MCI WorldCom's overall strategic efforts to offer high-speed,
broadband services using radio spectrum designated for an advanced
technology, known as Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service
(MMDS), capable of serving a 35-mile radius.
The current service trials operate on similar frequencies as MMDS
(2.1 Gigahertz and 2.5-2.7 GHz) in the Wireless Communication Service
(WCS) band (2.3 GHz). MCI WorldCom will roll out commercial MMDS
service later this year after FCC licensing approval has been
granted.
"As we test and build out our MMDS platform in larger cities, our
service market trials will be hosted in smaller cities where we have
existing wireless assets," Stupka explained. "By market testing now,
we'll be able to offer our customers in certain markets a competitive
package of broadband services by the end of the year."
In Jackson, Baton Rouge and Memphis, hundreds of customers -
including residential customers, small- and medium-sized businesses,
and schools - are using MCI WorldCom's "WarpOne" and "Warp 310"
wireless broadband services. WarpOne offers business customers Internet
and web-hosting services with scaleable bandwidth at speeds as fast as
digital subscriber line (DSL) service.
Warp 310 Internet access service offers residential users wireless,
high-speed connectivity at 310 Kilobits per second (Kbps), solidly
beating the fastest dial-up modems. Warp 310 high-speed Internet
service is designed initially for residences in apartment complexes
that can be served via a wireless local area network, and soon Warp 310
service will be available to residences in entire neighborhoods. At
$39.95 a month, Warp 310 customers receive unlimited usage without the
extra cost of an additional phone line into the home.
"Getting connected to Warp 310 service is as easy as 1, 2, 3 - call
to sign up for service, pop a card into your PC and you're ready to
go," Stupka said.
In several larger markets, MMDS technology field tests will start in
early 2000 so that by late 2001, the merged MCI WorldCom and Sprint
will offer its broadband "fixed wireless" service to customers in more
than 100 cities. It is the combination of MCI WorldCom and Sprint MMDS
that will allow accelerated deployment of these assets to rural areas
and markets traditionally underserved by the cable and local phone
monopolies.
MCI WorldCom (NASDAQ: WCOM) is a global leader in "all-distance"
communications services with operations in more than 65 countries.
Revenues in 1999 were $37 billion, with more than $15 billion from
high-growth data, Internet and international services. MCI WorldCom and
Sprint have announced a merger agreement, which the companies expect to
close in the second half of 2000 after regulatory and shareholder
approvals. For more information go to http://www.wcom.com.
