What is TACS?
TACS is the traditional analogue mobile phone system, introduced in the 1980s by Vodafone and Cellnet at 900MHz. ETACS is the same thing, but includes some extra channels borrowed from military frequencies, which were added in congested areas when the networks found new cell sites undesirable. The system worked quite well enough for most people's needs. In fact, on a good connection, the clear, smooth sound of a TACS phone was more pleasant than the rather harsher sound of a digital phone.
Goodbye!
For technical reasons, TACS is being phased out, and the networks will be keen to move users away to digital services, partly because they are re-allocating the TACS frequencies to GSM.
Comments, suggestions and amendments welcomed!
cellular. v1.51 13 October 2000