Space Data makes iDEN play
Arizona-based Space Data will use its nationwide 900 MHz spectrum to extend iDEN services in the United States, particularly in rural areas, the company announced.
Space Data recently announced consolidation of nationwide spectrum at 901-902 MHz, and Motorola did the technical work to extend the iDEN band by 78 new channels — Motorola’s third extension of the technology.
Best known for using weather balloons to launch base stations into near space to provide wireless services, Space Data hopes to support iDEN services on its SkySite network, but the immediate offering is a more traditional approach designed to leverage Space Data’s digital iDEN switch, according to Gerald Knoblach, chairman and CEO of Space Data.
“This is just a standard terrestrial setting,” he said.
According to Knoblach, the offering is ideal for entities that need push-to-talk capability but can’t justify the purchase of a $1 million digital switch.
“They want a private network, but it doesn’t make sense to buy a digital switch that services 25,000 subs for 500 people,” Knoblach said. “In that situation, they can buy a base station, hook it to our switch and pay for the T1 backhaul cost from our switch here in Phoenix and their base station.”