Triton PCS Launches Service in 12 Southeast Markets
"With this tremendous momentum, we have accelerated our network construction plan to meet the high volume of roaming traffic and strong subscriber demand," said Michael E. Kalogris, Triton PCS chairman and CEO. "Upon completion, we will provide service in 37 markets with approximately 13 million people and will cover more than 18,000 miles of connecting highway corridors throughout our territory."
Among the markets launched in the latter half of 1999 is the Tri-Cities area in northeastern Tennessee. The communities of Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City, TN cover a population of about 682, 000 people. Triton PCS also introduced service in Danville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Martinsville, and Winchester, VA; Goldsboro-Kinston, Greenville-Washington, Jacksonville, New Bern, and Rocky Mount, NC; and Sumter, SC.
The launch of service in the recent 12 markets adds to the extensive area covered in the initial 15 markets introduced during the first six months of the year. Triton PCS now provides service in some of the largest markets in the Southeast, including: Richmond, VA, with a population of 1.2 million people; the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area, 1.8 million people; Charleston, SC, 638,000 people, and Greenville-Spartanburg, 853,000 people.
The company markets its service under the brand SunCom, a member of the AT&T Wireless Network. During 1999, the company opened a total of 60 SunCom retail stores. In addition, the company is marketing its products and services through 82 direct corporate sales representatives and 299 authorized dealer locations. National retailers include Best Buy, Circuit City, MetroCall, Office Depot, TSR Wireless, and Staples, distributing SunCom service from 107 locations.