T-Mobile awarded Wireless Priority Service contract
T-Mobile USA announced Tuesday that the National Communications System (NCS), through its WPS integration contractor DynCorp, awarded the company a Nationwide Wireless Priority Service (WPS) contract. It also announced that Nationwide WPS is operational in 15 metropolitan areas in the Eastern United States.
WPS improves the capability to complete wireless calls during times of emergency for designated national security and emergency preparedness personnel. In times of emergency, WPS users have the ability to queue at the top for the next available capacity from their closest base station to place their call. WPS is available only to designated leadership at all government levels, national security, emergency responders, and private sector critical infrastructure personnel, as approved by the NCS and Federal Communications Commission Rules and Requirements.
T-Mobile has been providing WPS in the greater Washington, D.C. and New York City metropolitan areas since May 2002. The initial Nationwide WPS capability is now also available in the metropolitan areas of Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Boston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Louisville, Ken.; Memphis, Tenn.; Miami; Mobile, Ala.; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; Norfolk, Va.; Philadelphia, and Richmond, Va. Additional markets will be added nationwide over the next few months, as will further enhancements to the capability.