View source for Total Access Communication System

{{Redirect|TACS|other meanings of "TACS" or "Tacs"|Tacs (disambiguation){{!}}Tacs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
[[File:Motorola 4500X.jpg|thumb|First-generation Motorola 4500X mobile phone, which utilised ETACS]]
'''Total Access Communication System''' ('''TACS''') and '''ETACS''' are variants of [[Advanced Mobile Phone System]] (AMPS) which were announced as the choice for the first two UK national cellular systems in February 1983, less than a year after the UK government announced the T&Cs for the two competing [[mobile phone]] networks in June 1982.<ref name="The Introduction of Cellular Radio to the United Kingdom">{{cite conference |title=The Introduction of Cellular Radio to the United Kingdom |last=Barnes |first=David M |conference=Vehicular Technology Conference, 1985. 35th |pages=147–152 |date=May 1985|doi=10.1109/VTC.1985.1623346 }}</ref> This [[1G]] technology is now obsolete.

==History==
[[Vodafone]] (known then as Racal-Vodafone) opted for a £30 million turnkey contract<ref name="THE MOBILE PHONE BOOK">{{cite book |title=The Mobile Phone Book |last1=Mueling |first1=John |last2=Jeans |first2=Richard |isbn=978-0952403104 |page=92|year=1994 |publisher=CommunicationsWeek International }}</ref> from [[Ericsson]] (ERA) to design, build and set up its initial network of 100 base station sites.<ref name="The Racal Vodafone network in Great Britain">{{cite journal |title=The Racal Vodafone Network in Great Britain |journal=Ericsson Review |volume=64 |year=1987 |url=http://www.ericssonhistory.com/media/www.ericssonhistory.com_0003/DA2011-35585-Ericsson_Review_Vol_64_1987.pdf |page=130}}</ref>

[[File:Ericsson_CMS8810_Rack_as_found_in_a_Vodafone_TACS_basestation.jpg|thumb|left|Vodafone used CMS8810 equipment designed by Ericsson some of which was made under licence by Racal Carlton Nottingham]]

[[Cellnet]] (then known Telecom Securicor Cellular Radio Ltd) used development labs in the facilities at [[General Electric]] (later made part of [[Motorola]]) based at [[Lynchburg, Virginia]], United States. The reason Cellnet used the General Electric labs was because the AMPS system was already in development there, and the company had set up a production facility in readiness for AMPS production in 1985 which the Cellnet TACS was to share. In March 1984 development of prototypes began at General Electric. Production began in 1985 and General Electric produced 20,000 systems that year for Cellnet's distribution in the UK. Production of what was to become the Motorola model were then made at [[Stotfold]], Bedfordshire, England. This production facility continued making TACS until the advent of [[GSM]].

TACS cellular phones were used in [[Europe]] (including the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Italy]], [[Austria]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]) and other countries. TACS was also used in [[Japan]] under the name '''Japanese Total Access Communication''' ('''JTAC''').<ref name="volny">[http://www.volny.cz/drd/gsm/GSMTerms.html GSM Terma], volny.cz. Article retrieved 2006-01-19.</ref><ref name="mobiledia_jtac">[https://web.archive.org/web/20030728033656/http://www.mobiledia.com/glossary/150.html Japanese Total Access Communication (JTAC)], mobiledia.com. Article retrieved 2007-01-19.</ref> It was also used in [[Hong Kong]].<ref>[http://www.devx.com/wireless/Article/11422 Cellular Networks QuickStart: Getting up to Speed on Cellular, from 1G to 3G], devx.com. Article dated 2003-03-17. Retrieved 2007-01-19.</ref> ETACS was an extended version of TACS with more channels.

TACS and ETACS are now obsolete in Europe, having been replaced by the [[GSM]] (Global System for Mobile Communications) system. In the United Kingdom, the last ETACS service operated by Vodafone was discontinued on 31 May 2001, after 16 years of service. The competing service in the UK operated by Cellnet (latterly BT Cellnet) was closed on Sunday 1 October 2000.

[[Eircell]] (now [[Vodafone Ireland]]) closed its TACS network on 26 January 2001. This followed a long period during which customers were encouraged to switch to GSM services. When the network was closed, there were very few, if any, active TACS customers left. Customers who switched network were able to keep their phone number, but the (088) prefix was changed to either 087 ([[Eircell]], now Vodafone Ireland) GSM or 086 ([[Esat Digifone]], which became [[O2 (Ireland)|O2 Ireland]] before merging with [[3 (telecommunications)|Three]]) GSM. At the time, full mobile number portability was not available to TACS customers and the (088) prefix was closed. An automatic voice message was left in place for 12 months advising callers of the customer's new prefix.

== Frequency bands used by ETACS in the UK ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Channel!! Cell TX (MHz) !! Mobile TX (MHz)!! Notes
|-
| 1 ||  935.0125 ||  890.0125 || 25&nbsp;kHz spaced channels
|-
| 23 || 935.5625 || 890.5625 || 1st of 21 dedicated vodafone control channels
|- 
| 24 || 935.5650 || 890.5650 || 2nd of 21 dedicated vodafone control channels
|- 
| 300 || 942.4875 || 898.0625 ||9.5&nbsp;kHz peak speech fm deviation
|-
| 323 || 943.0625 || 898.0625 ||1st of 21 dedicated cellnet control channels 
|-
| 600 || 949.9875 || 904.9875 || Last TACS channel, ETACS extended this to 1320 later
|-
|}

TACS BAND Summary
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Base TX Start!! End (MHz) !! Mobile start !! End (MHz) !! Band
|-
| 935 || 950 ||890 || 905 ||TACS 600 Channels
|-
|935 || 960 || 890 || 915 || TACS 1000 Channels 
|-
|917 || 950 || 872 || 905  ||E-TACS 1320 Channels 
|}

ESNs were issued in batches of 65535 by BABT for phone manufacturers to program into each cellular phone to make each one unique to the TACS network with which it attempted to register.

The following countries had more than two batches of ESNs allocated to them: UK, Italy, Austria, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Australia.

== UK ETACS and US AMPS compared ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Feature!! TACS  !! AMPS
|-
| Channel Spacing  || 25&nbsp;kHz || 30&nbsp;kHz
|-
|  Speech peak Freq Dev|| 9.5&nbsp;kHz || 12&nbsp;kHz
|-
|  Signalling FSK peak Freq Dev|| 6.4&nbsp;kHz || 8&nbsp;kHz 
|-
|  Signalling rate || 8 kbit/s || 10 kbit/s
|-
|SAT 0 ||5970&nbsp;Hz||  5970&nbsp;Hz
|-
|SAT 1 ||6000&nbsp;Hz||  6000&nbsp;Hz
|-
|SAT 2 ||6030&nbsp;Hz||  6030&nbsp;Hz
|-
|ST ||8000&nbsp;Hz||   10000&nbsp;Hz
|-
|Mobile TX pwr MAC 0 ||10 W|| 4 W
|-
|Mobile TX pwr MAC 1 ||1.6 W|| 1.6 W
|-
|Mobile TX pwr MAC 2 ||630&nbsp;mW|| 630&nbsp;mW
|-
|Mobile TX pwr MAC 3 ||250&nbsp;mW|| 250&nbsp;mW
|-
|Mobile TX pwr MAC 4 ||100&nbsp;mW|| 100&nbsp;mW
|-
|Mobile TX pwr MAC 5 ||40&nbsp;mW|| 40&nbsp;mW
|-
|Mobile TX pwr MAC 6 ||16&nbsp;mW|| 16&nbsp;mW
|-
|Mobile TX pwr MAC 7 ||6.3&nbsp;mW|| 6.3&nbsp;mW
|-
|}

==Commercial deployments==
{| class="wikitable"
!Country
!Operator(s)
![[Frequency|ƒ]] (MHz)
!Launch date
!End of service
!Notes
|-
|{{flag|United Kingdom}} <br> <br>
{{flag|Jersey}}
|[[Vodafone UK|Vodafone]]
[[Cellnet]]<br> 
[[Jersey Telecom]]
|
|Jan 1985 
Jan 1985<br> 
1987
|May 2001<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-04-11 |title=Vodafone closes analogue network |url=https://www.computing.co.uk/news/1830513/vodafone-closes-analogue-network |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=computing.co.uk}}</ref>
Oct 2000 <br>
1999
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Shi |first=Mingtao |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZRo-lxUDwkC&pg=PA62 |title=Technology Base of Mobile Cellular Operators in Germany and China: A Comparative Study from the Perspective of the Resource Based View |date=2007 |publisher=Univerlagtuberlin |isbn=978-3-7983-2057-4}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Ireland}}
|[[Eircell]]
|
|Dec 1985
|Jan 2001
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|{{flag|Hong Kong}}
|[[CSL Mobile]]
[[Hutchison Telecom]]
|
|1987
|May 1996<ref>{{cite web |title=Hutchison Whampoa Limited - Financial Information |url=http://www.irasia.com/listco/hk/hutchisonweb-new/eng/stock/finance/telecom.html |website=Investor Relations Asia Pacific |access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of the Communications Authority - Telecommunications Milestones before 2012 |url=https://www.ofca.gov.hk/en/news_info/milestones/telecommunications_milestones_before_2012/index.html |website=Office of the Communications Authority |access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tsang |first1=KC |title=我地廣告 |date=2017 |publisher=Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited |isbn=978-988-8488-27-8 |pages=648–653 |language=zh-hk}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|China}}
|[[China Mobile]]
|
|Nov 1987<ref>{{cite web |title=1987年11月18日 广州移动电话网开通 |url=http://www.ioe.cas.cn/qtgn/zt/lstk/201312/t20131205_3991115.html |website=中国科学院光电技术研究所 |access-date=2022-07-22 |language=zh-cn}}</ref>
|Dec 2001<ref>{{cite web |author1=中国移动通信集团公司模拟网退网领导小组办公室 |title=中国模拟移动通信网已退出历史舞台 |url=http://www.chinamobile.com/readnews/readNewsb.asp?id=4837 |website=中国移动通信网站 |publisher=中国移动通信 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020416174747/http://www.chinamobile.com/readnews/readNewsb.asp?id=4837 |archive-date=2002-04-16 |language=zh-cn |date=2001-12-31 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2002-01-01 |title=中国模拟移动通信网完成历史使命于31日晚关闭 |url=https://tech.sina.com.cn/it/t/2002-01-01/98043.shtml |access-date=2022-07-22 |publisher=Sina Corp |language=zh-cn}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite journal |last1=叶 |first1=国兴 |title=广东省电话通信蓬勃发展 |journal=广东政报 |date=30 September 1989 |volume=1989 |issue=9 |pages=30–31 |url=http://www.gd.gov.cn/attachment/0/433/433498/3355497.pdf |access-date=27 July 2022 |publisher=广东省人民政府办公厅 |location=广东省广州市 |language=zh-cn}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Macau}}
|[[Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau|CTM]]
|
|Nov 1988<ref>{{cite web |title=Main Evolutions - Telecom |url=https://telecommunications.ctt.gov.mo/en/AboutUS/MainEvo |website=CTT |access-date=27 July 2022 |language=pt}}</ref>
|Feb 2001<ref>{{cite web |title=印務局 - 第6/2001號行政命令 |url=https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2001/06/ordem06_cn.asp |website=澳門特別行政區政府印務局 |access-date=27 July 2022 |language=zh-mo}}</ref>
|<ref name=":1">{{Cite web | url=https://media.crai.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05145230/Insights-The-Economics-of-5G-article-6-Open-or-Closed-System-May2021.pdf | title=To open or not to open a technological system: insights from the history of mobile phones and their application to 5G | website=media.crai.com | access-date=2024-08-03 | date=May 2021 | via=CRA Insights - The Economics of 5G }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
|[[Etisalat (Sri Lanka)|Celltel]]
|
|1989
|2006<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lankan mobile phone industry now totally GSM |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/070107/FinancialTimes/ft334.html |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=sundaytimes.lk}}</ref>
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|{{flag|Japan}}
|[[KDDI|DDI]]
|
|Jul 1989<ref>{{cite book |last1=森島 |first1=光紀 |title=国立科学博物館技術の系統化調査報告 第7集 |date=2007-03-30 |publisher=独立行政法人 国立科学博物館 |location=東京 |page=199 |url=https://sts.kahaku.go.jp/diversity/document/system/pdf/028.pdf |access-date=2022-07-22 |language=ja}}</ref>
|Sep 2000<ref>{{cite web |date=2000-09-29 |title=ＴＡＣＳ（アナログ）方式の携帯電話サービスの終了について |url=https://www.kddi.com/release/ido/news/20000929_2.html |publisher=KDDI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030220113744/https://www.kddi.com/release/ido/news/20000929_2.html |archive-date=20 February 2003 |language=ja |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|{{flag|Malaysia}}
|[[Celcom]]
|
|1989
|
|Named ART-900.<ref>{{Cite web |last=href= |first=LEONG HUNG YEE |title=Mobile phone has come of age |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2010/10/23/mobile-phone-has-come-of-age |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=The Star}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
|-
|{{flag|Mauritania}}
|
|
|1989
|
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|
|
|1989
|
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|{{flag|Ghana}}
|
|
|
|
|<ref name=":2">{{Cite web | url=https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub2646.pdf | access-date=2024-08-03 | title=Global Competitiveness of U.S. Advanced-Technology Industries: Cellular Communications | website=usitc.gov | date=June 1993}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Bahrain}}
|
|
|
|
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Kuwait}}
|
|
|
|
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Italy}}
|{{ill|display=y|lt=TIM|Telecom Italia Mobile|en|Gruppo TIM|it|Gruppo TIM}}
|
|Apr 1990
|Dec 2005<ref>{{Cite web |title=Repubblica.it Â» scienza_e_tecnologia Â» In pensione il vecchio Tacs 'papï¿½' dei moderni cellulari |url=https://www.repubblica.it/2005/j/sezioni/scienza_e_tecnologia/tacs/tacs/tacs.html |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=la Repubblica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tra due giorni addio al vecchio cellulare Tacs - Cellulare Magazine |url=https://archivio.cellulare-magazine.it/sito/news/4982/Tra_due_giorni_addio_al_vecchio_cellulare_Tacs_php.php |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=archivio.cellulare-magazine.it}}</ref>
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|{{flag|Spain}}
|{{ill|display=y|MoviLine|es|MoviLine|}}
|
|Apr 1990
|Dec 2003<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pantaleoni |first=Ana |date=2004-01-21 |title=Cierra MoviLine, el primer servicio popular de telefonía móvil |language=es |work=El País|location=Madrid |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/22/ciberpais/1074739223_850215.html |access-date=2022-06-22 |issn=1134-6582}}</ref>
|Named TMA-900.<ref name=":0" />
|-
|{{flag|Austria}}
|[[Mobilkom]]
|
|Jul 1990
|Feb 2002<ref>{{Cite web |last=online |first=heise |title=30 Jahre Mobilfunk in Österreich |url=https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/30-Jahre-Mobilfunk-in-oesterreich-98121.html |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=heise online |date=5 May 2004 |language=de}}</ref>
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Malta}}
|
|
|
|
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Nigeria}}
|
|
|1991
|
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Singapore}}
|
|
|1991
|
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Kenya}}
|
|
|1992
|
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Mauritius}}
|
|
|
|
|<ref name=":2" />
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mobile telecommunications standards}}

[[Category:History of telecommunications]]
[[Category:History of mobile telecommunications in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Mobile radio telephone systems]]