Sprint plans to build competing PCS network; multimillion-dollar system would face off with GTE.(personal communications services)

Long-distance giant Sprint is poised to spend millions to build a personal communications services network that would start serving the Tri-State next summer.

Sprint spokesman Tom Murphy said building the local PCS network will cost "tens of millions of dollars." However, sources familiar with Sprint's plans say that investment could total $75 million to $100 million - figures the company disputes.

Sprint PCS, a division of Westwood, Kan.-based Sprint Corp., has already started offering similar services in other dries and plans to cover 65 major markets across the country in a couple of years.

PCS is a relatively new level of cellular technology that …