PCS implementation-a merger of American and European mobile systems

Personal communication services (PCS) are gaining momentum in the United States of America. The FCC ruling to auction the PCS licences in 1994 gives a tremendous boost. Air-interface standards are under definition or already defined by the Joint Technical Committee of ANSI T1 and TIA. The European GSM and DCS1800 cellular radio standards provide most of the elements needed to create PCS networks. Two important elements are the air-interface standard, including the signalling which is reflected at the radio/switching interface as well (A-I/F) and the network subsystem elements and functions. Specific functions beyond or different from GSM are needed to interface with existing mobile radio networks and the PSTN/ISDN. But PCS at the end are more than just another radio standard. PCS will combine fixed and mobile networks to create personal mobility, single number services for all its customers, whether they are using radio or cable access to the network. After some considerations on PCS, the paper describes the GSM/DCS1800 system A1800. Secondly the D-AMPS/E-TDMA system GMH2000 is reviewed. Thirdly, the merged PCS system A1900 is explained