General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC) announced today that its NextLevel Broadband Networks Group has been selected to provide digital wireless systems to People's Choice TV Corp. (PCTV) and CS Wireless Systems, Inc., two of the largest wireless cable operators in North America with a combined total of 15.1 million line of sight homes. PCTV and CS Wireless have committed to ordering 600,000 DWT-1000 digital wireless consumer set-tops and associated headend equipment over three years. GI also will perform systems integration. The value of the award is approximately $240 million.

PCTV and CS Wireless selected GI's NextLevel Broadband Networks Group because of its MPEG-2 wireless system's performance in field tests, as well as the company's technical expertise and support services. Another factor was the GI division's ability to provide overall compatibility with the compression and transmission standards selected by the North American Cable and Satellite community as a whole. Utilizing the full 200 MHz spectrum, the GI's NextLevel digital system is capable of producing 200 channels at 64 QAM transmission and 300 channels at 256 QAM.

"Our NextLevel digital wireless system and consumer terminals will enable operators to significantly increase their channel capacity and provide state-of-the-art digital video, audio and interactive data services," said Glenn Altchek, Manager, Wireless Business Development for the Broadband Networks Group. "And with GI's open applications development environment, the NextLevel digital system will enhance our customers' revenue-generating ability with new and exciting applications."

"The NextLevel digital wireless MMDS technology is clearly the solution we want," stated Matt Oristano, Chairman of PCTV. "GI has been the company most capable of meeting our needs for a quality end-to-end solution. We are thrilled to further our long-standing relationship with GI and have them as our partners in our digital video deployment."

"GI's leading-edge technology will enable us to maintain a competitive advantage," Lowell Hussey, President and CEO of CS Wireless, said. "Now, with the company's NextLevel digital wireless consumer terminals, we can provide our subscribers with more channels, interactive applications and personalized viewing experiences."

"GI has been the leader in analog wireless systems worldwide," said Sid Prothro, the Broadband Networks Group's National Sales Manager, Wireless Products. "This expertise, combined with our industry-leading digital technology, allows us to deliver a superior solution to wireless cable operators, both domestic and international.

The DWT-1000 consumer set-tops are part of the NextLevel MPEG-2 digital solution for MMDS operators, which combines advanced open standards with GI's proven access control and security technologies. They offer subscribers clearer and sharper video images, CD-quality sound, an increased number of channels and a wide range of interactive services including near-video-on-demand (NVOD), virtual channel services and high-speed Internet access. The DWT-1000 set-tops also support electronic program guides and broadcast interactive services.

People's Choice TV Corp. (Nasdaq-NNM: PCTV) owns and operates wireless cable television systems in Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Tucson and holds wireless cable frequency rights in Indianapolis, Kansas City and Milwaukee, where it intends to launch wireless cable television systems in the future. PCTV has a pending transaction by which it would acquire the Salt Lake City market in exchange for its Kansas City market. Wireless cable television service competes with traditional hard-wired cable systems and transmits satellite television channels to small receiving antennas at customer location via super high frequencies.

CS Wireless Systems, Inc. is a privately held company formed by a partnership of Heartland Wireless Communications, CAI Wireless, Bell Atlantic, and NYNEX. CS Wireless Systems, Inc. operates wireless cable systems serving approximately 70,000 customers in nine markets throughout the United States.

Upon completion this summer of its recently announced strategic restructuring, General Instrument Corporation will divide into three separate public companies that are leaders in distinct global growth markets. NextLevel Systems, Inc., comprised of the Broadband Networks Group, the Satellite Data Networks Group and GI's Next Level Communications subsidiary, will emerge as a leading worldwide supplier of systems and components for high performance networks delivering video, voice and Internet/data services. CommScope, Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer of coaxial cable and a leading supplier of high-performance electronic cables. General Semiconductor, Inc. (currently Power Semiconductor) is a world leader in the sale of discrete semiconductors.

Source: General Instrument Corporation