Lucent Wins 4 Digital-Wireless Contracts

Lucent Technologies Inc. said it has won four digital-wireless equipment contracts totaling $94.8 million. Central Wireless Partnership of Fresno will buy $50 million in Lucent equipment for its personal communications services wireless networks in California. Under the other contracts, three Southern companies--Hargray Wireless of Hilton Head, S.C., and Georgia Independent PCS Corp. and Savannah Independent PCS Corp., both of Macon, Ga.--will buy $44.8 million in equipment over five years for their PCS networks. Lucent’s equipment uses code-division multiple-access technology, which promises wireless phone users better call quality and more security than traditional analog equipment. Central Wireless will also use Lucent’s antennae and switching equipment for its PCS networks in Fresno, Modesto and Stockton. Shares of Murray Hill, N.J.-based Lucent fell $3.44 to close at $75.06 on the NYSE.