<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001225217-03-000003
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030429
<FILING-DATE>20030508
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MARTINEZ LOU
<CIK>0001225217
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27455
<FILM-NUMBER>03688354
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>AIRGATE PCS INC
<STREET2>233 PEACHTREE STREET, SUITE 1700
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
<PHONE>404-525-7272
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>AIRGATE PCS INC
<STREET2>233 PEACHTREE STREET, SUITE 1700
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/
<CIK>0001086844
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4813
<IRS-NUMBER>582422929
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>233 PEACHTREE ST NE
<STREET2>SUITE 1700
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
<PHONE>4045257272
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>233 PEACHTREE ST
<STREET2>SUITE 1700
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-04-29</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001086844</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pcsa.ob</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225217</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARTINEZ LOU</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lou Martinez</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
