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SunCom chooses Charleston for Southeast wireless headquarters
SunCom chooses Charleston for Southeast wireless
headquarters
SunCom, an affiliate of the
AT&T Wireless Services network, has established a regional headquarters and
call center in Charleston, and is opening four retail stores in the area. The
venture will add over 130 immediate new jobs in the Charleston area.
“SunCom selected Charleston and
Richmond as its two regional hubs because of their economic growth, strong
employment base and exceptional quality of life,” says Michael Mears, president
of SunCom’s South region, which includes South Carolina, northeastern Georgia
and western North Carolina. (Suncom is a brand name of Triton PCS, Inc. of
Malvern, Penn.)
The company’s South region plan is
to market wireless service to a population area of 13 million people. “SunCom
will have the advantage of being part of the largest nationwide wireless
network” says Mears, “while offering our own national and regional rate plans
to suit the needs of our customers.”
SunCom
penetrates S.C. market
The wireless telephone industry is
highly competitive and highly saturated. But Mears believes that SunCom’s
affiliation with AT&T, heavy investment in advanced telephone and network
technology, and strong commitment to customer care offer competitive
advantages.
SunCom’s recent opening of
Charleston’s seven-day, 24-hour call center offers one clear advantage. “Our
goal is to answer every telephone call with a human voice on the first ring,”
says Mears of the service, which will answer regional billing and service
inquiries. To do this, the customer care center is over-staffing in hopes of
meeting the expanding demand anticipated as new markets come on line.
In addition to store openings in
Charleston, the SunCom South region has also expanded to Florence, Augusta,
Greenville/Spartanburg and Anderson, with stores to open soon in Columbia.
Further expansion into Asheville, Hilton Head, Beaufort and other markets is on
the drawing board.
Industry analysts seem optimistic
about the company’s prospects. JP
Morgan and Lehman Brothers, two highly respected New York investment firms,
give Triton PCS a Buy rating based on its experienced management team,
affiliation with AT&T, and a solid business plan emphasizing coverage and
quality of service.
SunCom will initially employ 111
people in its regional headquarters, including 44 in the call center, and 71 in
regional marketing, finance, engineering and administrative jobs. Another 180 associates will work in sales
and marketing positions throughout the Charleston-based region.
“We expect these numbers to
increase substantially as we launch additional markets,” says Mears.
Mears foresees not only
substantial growth in SunCom’s presence in Charleston, but its involvement in
the community. The company was a major sponsor of First Night, and plans to be
involved with the city’s millennium celebration.
“Our corporate culture will
emphasize community focus in every market we enter,” says Mears. “We believe in
giving back.”
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