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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25

                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

(Check One):
|X| Form 10-K |_| Form 20-F |_| Form 11-K |_| Form 10-Q  |_| Form N-SAR

For Period Ended: September 30, 2002
[ ] Transition Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB
[ ] Transition Report on Form 20-F
[ ] Transition Report on Form 11-K
[ ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q and Form 10-QSB
[ ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR
For the Transition Period Ended:__________________

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Read Instructions (on back page) Before Preparing Form. Please Print or Type
================================================================================
Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has
verified any information contained herein.
================================================================================

If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify
the Item(s) to which the notification relates:

PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION

AirGate PCS, Inc.
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Full Name of Registrant


Former Name if Applicable

Harris Tower, 233 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 1700
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Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)

Atlanta, Georgia 30303
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City, State and Zip Code

PART II - RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or expense
and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should
be completed. (Check box if appropriate)

 (a)    The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this form
        could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense;
 (b)|X| The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition report on
        Form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof, will be
        filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day following the prescribed
        due date; or the subject quarterly report of transition report on Form
        10-Q, or portion thereof will be filed on or before the fifth calendar
        day following the prescribed due date; and
 (c)    The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule 12b-25(c)
        has been attached if applicable.

PART III - NARRATIVE

State below in reasonable detail the reasons why Forms 10-K, 20-F, 11-K, 10-Q,
N-SAR, or the transition report or portion thereof, could not be filed within
the prescribed time period.

AirGate PCS, Inc. ("AirGate") is unable to timely file its Annual Report on Form
10-K without  unreasonable effort or expense because AirGate and its independent
auditors,  KPMG  LLP,  require  additional  time to  allow  AirGate  and KPMG to
complete a review of balances owed to AirGate by Sprint and AirGate's subscriber
accounts  receivable  balances,  and to address  other  matters  that may arise,
including the impact, if any, of potential adjustments from this review on prior
periods.  This delay is also  necessary to permit KPMG to complete  their audit.
The completion of the audit,  including KPMG's evaluation of AirGate's  business
plans and related matters and the effect of a bankruptcy filing by iPCS, Inc., a





separate and unrestricted  subsidiary of AirGate,  for AirGate,  is necessary to
determine the consequences, if any, on KPMG's audit opinion.

PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION

(1)  Name  and  telephone  number  of  person  to  contact  in  regard  to  this
notification.

   Barbara L. Blackford            (404)                525-7272
  ----------------------      --------------      --------------------
          (Name)                (Area Code)        (Telephone Number)

(2) Have all other  periodic  reports  required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment  Company Act of
1940  during  the  preceding  12  months  or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant  was  required to file such  report(s)  been filed?  If answer is no,
identify report(s). |X| Yes |_| No

(3) Is it anticipated that any significant  change in results of operations from
the  corresponding  period for the last  fiscal  year will be  reflected  by the
earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion thereof?
|X| Yes |_| No

If so, attach an explanation of the  anticipated  change,  both  narratively and
quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable estimate
of the results cannot be made.

When filed,  AirGate's Annual Report on Form 10-K will report charges associated
with the  impairment of goodwill and tangible and  intangible  assets related to
iPCS.  These  impairment  charges are  estimated to be $735 million for the year
ended September 30, 2002.  Included in these charges is a goodwill impairment of
$261 million  recorded by AirGate in the second  fiscal  quarter.  In the fourth
fiscal quarter,  AirGate expects to report an impairment  charge of tangible and
intangible assets related to iPCS of approximately $474 million.

                                AirGate PCS, Inc.
                              --------------------
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has  caused  this  notification  to be signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

Date  December 30, 2002      By /s/ William H. Seippel
     --------------------    ---------------------------------
                             Title  William H. Seippel, Chief Financial Officer


INSTRUCTION: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the registrant or
by any other duly  authorized  representative.  The name and title of the person
signing  the form  shall  be typed or  printed  beneath  the  signature.  If the
statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized  representative
(other than an executive officer), evidence of the representative's authority to
sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed with the form.


                                    ATTENTION
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Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal
Violations (See 18 U.S.C 1001).
================================================================================

                              GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. This form is required by Rule 12b-25 (17 CFR 240.12b-25) of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

2. One signed  original and four  conformed  copies of this form and  amendments
thereto must be completed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington,  D.C.  20549,  in accordance  with Rule 0-3 of the General Rules and
Regulations  under the Act. The information  contained in or filed with the form
will be made a matter of public record in the Commission files.

3. A manually signed copy of the form and amendments thereto shall be filed with
each  national  securities  exchange  on which  any class of  securities  of the
registrant is registered.

4.  Amendments to the  notifications  must also be filed on Form 12b-25 but need
not restate  information  that has been correctly  furnished.  The form shall be
clearly identified as an amended notification.

5. Electronic Filers. This form shall not be used by electronic filers unable to
timely file a report  solely due to  electronic  difficulties.  Filers unable to
submit a report  within  the  time  period  prescribed  due to  difficulties  in
electronic  filing  should comply with either Rule 201 or Rule 202 of Regulation
S-T  (ss.232.13(b)  of this  chapter) or apply for an  adjustment in filing date
pursuant to Rule 13(b) of Regulation S-T (ss.232.13(b) of this chapter).