PCS, Personal Communications Systems, is a name
given to wireless systems that are starting to operate in the 1800 MHz frequency band.
Initially the concept was that these systems would be very different than cellular;
better, cheaper, simpler. However, as the date for installation has crept closer, most
companies have thrown their money on upbanded cellular standards: •PCS1900 -
Upbanded GSM cellular. •TIA IS-136 - Upbanded TDMA digital cellular. •TIA IS-95
- Upbanded CDMA digital cellular. •TIA IS-88 - Upbanded NAMPS narrowband analog
cellular. •TIA IS-91 - Upbanded plain old analog cellular.
A few systems are being promoted that are not based on cellular, but they have not as
yet caught the PCS world on fire:
•J-STD-014 - PACS (combination of Bellcore WACS and Japan's PHS) •TIA IS-661
- Omnipoint composite CDMA/TDMA •TIA IS-665 - OKI/Interdigital Wideband CDMA
The PCS frequency allocation in the US (being followed in other countries also) is
three 30MHz allocations and three 10 MHz allocations.