I think that it would be a good idea to partner up with the RCA folks for a LTE network sharing agreement. This way Sprint could get more revenue from the LTE network sharing and hopefully gain some more access to PCS spectrum from the regional carriers.

Looking from the outside, my biggest concern is that though this is a great idea, a 5x5 LTE carrier is not enough to support Sprint's own postpaid customers let alone allowing more regional carriers to come in. If Sprint can manage to gather enough spectrum to have at least a 10x10 or even better a 15x15 LTE carrier then I think Sprint should go for it.

great article. I think it would be awesome if sprint could do that

I wonder if the newly gained areas would be considered roaming or not? Although I never go over 2GB per month on my data card I do have problems with the 300MB cap on roaming and with LTE you could blow through that quickly.

Just remember.... at least theoretically... In the areas that the regionals would use Sprint's 5X5 PCS G Block Spectrum to build coverage, although Sprint would probably recognize it as native coverage, Sprint would not proactively sell coverage in those areas... The capacity limitations would be more accurately measured by looking at the Regional carrier's customer load and adding the 'occasional' Sprint roamer. Should be plenty considering the size of the majority of the regionals.

Also, in the markets where Sprint and the ideal Regional partner compete and both sell service, the regional should theoretically own enough spectrum and resources to deploy its own LTE so that in areas with a high concentration of both the regional customers as well as sprint's own native customers, both aren't squatting on the same 5X5 configuration.

The other variable is that the regional carrier's own customers venture outside its home footprint from time to time.. and would be Sprint roamers. While this could only worsen the load in places like Disney World, Manhattan, etc, most of the regionals are fairly strict on their customers when they roam... they will reprimand them if the roaming is repeatedly excessive, sometimes even capping or shutting them off after a certain point. Its statistically variable... but not nearly as threatening as what they've been doing to their capacity by selling unlimited 3G to Boost and Virgin customers.

Maybe Sprint thinks it can offer the native nextel (no CDMA) towers up to some of the Regional carriers and offer to let them take the tower over with Sprint's spectrum and its own operations?

Excellent insight Jeff. A lot depends on the deal Sprint signs with the partner carriers. I believe you're right that the deals will probably have Sprint's customers seeing native coverage in the "roaming" areas, but Sprint will not sell service in those areas.

Does anyone have any regional carriers in mind who they think could be a "match made in heaven" for Sprint to work with?

USCellular, Cspire, Leap, and Metro come to mind for me... but... Leap and Metro are cash strapped like Sprint, Cspire owns a blanket of 700mhz coverage in all the areas it wishes to service , and USC seems to be wedged pretty far up Verizon's arse when when it comes to roaming... They're all ideal roamers for Sprint's native network, but I have no idea if any of them would want to build and sell LTE with Sprint's spectrum anywhere ?

It makes perfect sense. Even Verizon with their deep pockets realizes the impracticality of rolling out a brand new network to every corner of the country, hence their LTE in Rural America program. It would behoove Sprint to act on this sooner rather than later, lest they let Verizon (or even AT&T) ink all of the viable partners like they did with Pioneer. Since at&t and VZW don't really want to provide 700MHz interoperability with these smaller carriers, this could be a win-win scenario as the smaller carriers could help Sprint build out in rural areas as well as provide 700MHz roaming and the smaller carriers subscribers could roam on Sprint PCS network when they venture into urban and suburban areas. They can't afford to dilly-dally though.

I wonder if the newly gained areas would be considered roaming or not? Although I never go over 2GB per month on my data card I do have problems with the 300MB cap on roaming and with LTE you could blow through that quickly.

I don't think it would be considered roaming. If Sprint can form an agreement similar with what is happening with WiMax that is. 4G WiMax is not considered roaming but it is Clearwire's network. It would be wise for them to do it that way.

Does anyone have any regional carriers in mind who they think could be a "match made in heaven" for Sprint to work with? USCellular, Cspire, Leap, and Metro come to mind for me... but... Leap and Metro are cash strapped like Sprint, Cspire owns a blanket of 700mhz coverage in all the areas it wishes to service , and USC seems to be wedged pretty far up Verizon's arse when when it comes to roaming... They're all ideal roamers for Sprint's native network, but I have no idea if any of them would want to build and sell LTE with Sprint's spectrum anywhere ?

There is a small carrier that sprung up after the Verizon/Alltel take over called Element Mobile in central Wisconsin. I was told that Verizon can’t sell service in this area and Element already has some kind of connection with Sprint using Sprint towers and I think some of the old Alltel towers.