<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950137-03-004948
<TYPE>425
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<FILING-DATE>20030926
<SUBJECT-COMPANY>
<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>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>425
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27455
<FILM-NUMBER>03910838
</FILING-VALUES>
<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>
</SUBJECT-COMPANY>
<FILED-BY>
<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>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>425
</FILING-VALUES>
<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>
</FILED-BY>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>425
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c79776ce425.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 425
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<P align="right"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Filed by AirGate PCS, Inc.<BR>
Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended<BR>
Subject Company: AirGate PCS, Inc.<BR>
Commission File No.: 027455
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&#091;AirGate PCS, Inc. Letter to Employees&#093;
</FONT>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="23%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="23%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><FONT size="2">Dear Colleagues:</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="right"><FONT size="2">September&nbsp;24, 2003<BR></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">This afternoon after the market closed, we announced a recapitalization plan
designed to strengthen the financial condition of the company. I have
attached the press release with the details of this plan for you, and I would
like to share some of my thoughts regarding this announcement.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">Let me begin by clearly stating that this financial plan will NOT impact you
and your work at AirGate. This debt restructuring is simply designed to better
position AirGate financially and in the marketplace for continued growth. From
a day-to-day operational standpoint, your employment, activities and goals
remain the same.
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>AirGate Recapitalization Plan</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">As we face the ongoing challenges in our business, we need a strong capital
structure to pursue our &#145;smart-growth&#146; strategy and achieve our business
objectives. We believe that achievement of this recapitalization plan will
provide us with a more simplified and more secure capital structure by
substantially reducing our principal and interest payments, which will come due
under our current debt structure. The main component of the plan is an offer
to exchange all of our $300&nbsp;million in outstanding old notes for a combination
of $160&nbsp;million in new notes at a lower interest rate and new shares of our
common stock, which will represent approximately 56&nbsp;percent of outstanding
equity. This will generate a debt service savings of more than $255&nbsp;million
over the next five years. We are targeting completion of this refinancing plan
for the end of the year, subject to SEC review and other normal conditions.
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Company Performance</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">Thanks to your focus and dedication, AirGate is performing well. In December,
we will be releasing our fiscal year-end results, which will allow us to share
our most recent successes. Until then, I wanted to share a few examples of how
we are delivering on our commitments:
</FONT>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">AirGate is significantly improving operating results under our
&#145;smart-growth&#146; strategy.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">During the last two quarters, we increased our cash position. With
more cash on hand, we have gained the financial flexibility to consider
alternative operating strategies that will enable us to further improve
our operational performance, such as enhanced customer care and related
services.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">AirGate&#146;s subscriber base continues to stabilize with better quality subscribers than ever before.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">We have improved our churn rate, although we need even more improvement in the future.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">We have successfully reduced and controlled operating expenses by
making important, and often difficult, organizational decisions that
have improved our financial condition.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">We have hired a Director of Audit Services who also has
responsibility for helping develop programs to address security and
loss prevention issues.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">We will be conducting an all employee conference call Thursday morning,
September&nbsp;25 at 10:00 am to discuss this topic further with you and to answer
your questions. Please call 1(xxx) xxx-xxxx, confirmation code: xxxxxx.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">The past year or so has been a challenging one for all of us. While we have
put actions in to place to become more customer-focused, more efficient, and
better positioned to achieve our goals, we certainly have experienced many ups
and downs. These new initiatives have created a lot of change for us, and I&#146;m
proud to say that you are embracing these challenges and opportunities with
sincere dedication. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your
commitment to the company and to your optimism towards the future.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">Success isn&#146;t something that just simply happens to us. I believe we make our
own success. I&#146;m confident that through the efforts of the talented people of
AirGate, we will have a strong year ahead of us, as well.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">Tom Dougherty<BR>
President and CEO-AirGate PCS<BR>
Letters to employees.doc
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;
</FONT>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>&#091;Email note to key leaders regarding the leadership conference call&#093;</B>
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2">Dear AirGate Management Team:
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">This afternoon, AirGate announced to the financial community a recapitalization
plan designed to provide a better, simpler and more secure financial base for
AirGate. Attached are three documents:
</FONT>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">1)
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">A letter from me that will be sent to all employees describing the
plan and announcing an All Hands conference call tomorrow morning at
10:00 am
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">2)
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">The external press release distributed today
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">3)
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">Brief Q and A document to help you answer employee questions
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">Before we talk about this financial plan with employees, I want to bring you
fully up-to-date on this issue so you can answer any questions you may receive
from your people. I will be holding a conference call late this afternoon to
talk with you about the plan and answer your questions.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">CONFERENCE CALL NUMBER (xxx)&nbsp;xxx-xxxx PASS CODE xxxxxx
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">We believe that completion of this recapitalization will provide us with a
greatly improved and more secure capital structure by substantially reducing
our debt burden. The plan will save more than $255&nbsp;million in principal and
interest payments compared with our current debt structure.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">As a manager at AirGate, I need your support to make sure that your people
understand what this plan means to them. Hold local team meetings and make
yourself available to your people.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">The takeaway messages are clear:
</FONT>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">This plan puts AirGate in a stronger financial position and that is good for the people of AirGate.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">Daily operations remain as they do today &#150; focused on business
results and our &#147;smart-growth&#148; strategy.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
       <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left"><FONT size="2">&#149;
</FONT></TD>
       <TD width="1%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
       <TD><FONT size="2">This plan will not have an impact on employment for the people of
AirGate.
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">I look forward to talking with you later this afternoon.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">Tom Dougherty<BR>
President and CEO &#151; AirGate PCS
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Additional Information</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">AirGate PCS, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) expects to file an exchange offer
registration statement and a proxy statement relating to the recapitalization
transaction with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;SEC&#148;) as soon as
possible. Broadview International, LLC and Masson and Company are advising the
Company on the transaction. Jefferies &#038; Company has been appointed
dealer-manager for the exchange offer. The Company and its directors and
executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies from the stockholders of the Company with respect to the transactions
contemplated by the exchange offer. Information about the Company&#146;s directors
and officers is included in the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with
the SEC on January&nbsp;17, 2003 and in the Company&#146;s Proxy Statement for its 2003
Annual Meeting of Shareowners filed with the SEC on January&nbsp;28, 2003.
</FONT>
<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">The foregoing reference to the registered exchange offer shall not constitute
an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any
sale of shares of the Company&#146;s common stock or the Company 9 3/8% senior
subordinated secured notes due 2009 in any state in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification
under the securities laws of any such state. Investors and security holders
are urged to read the Registration Statement on Form S-4, including the
prospectus relating to the exchange offer and the Proxy Statement on Schedule
14A (and, in each case, any amendments thereto) when they become available
because they will contain important information.
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;
</FONT>
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<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%"><FONT size="2">These documents and amendments to these documents will be filed with the SEC.
When these and other documents are filed with the SEC, they may be obtained at
the SEC&#146;s web site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain each of these documents
(when available) from the Company by directing your request to Barbara L.
Blackford, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at (404)
525-7272.
</FONT>


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