Cingular could be preparing to disconnect many of subscribers over the next two years. Cingular CEO Stan Sigman told a group of attendees at the TelecomNext trade show in Las Vegas this week that Cingular plans to shut off its TDMA analog network by 2008. While 95% of Cingular's traffic currently travels over the company's digital GSM network, it is thought that several million Cingular subscribers continue to rely on the company's TDMA network. According to a Cingular spokesman, the company will be contacting subscribers using the TDMA network to try and persuade them to move to the company's digital GSM network. Low-volume subscribers who may not want to switch to a more expensive postpaid plan using the GSM network will be encouraged to consider using one of the prepaid phones that are sold by the company. Cingular inherited AT&T Wireless? TDMA network when is acquired that carrier in 2004.

Source: Telecommunications Research and Action Center. http://www.trac.org