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Sprint Marketing Releases a 4G LTE City List where work is under way


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by Robert Herron
Sprint 4G Rollout Updates
Monday, September 10, 2012 - 8:05 AM MDT

 

This morning, we received a Press Release from Sprint Marketing that shows some of Sprint's plan in their LTE deployment through the end of the year. In this Press Release, Sprint officially names 12 more markets that have received/starting to receive LTE deployments currently, and names more than 100 communities names.

None of these are any surprise to people who follow S4GRU closely, especially those with access to Sponsor content. In fact, this Press Release is a big confirmation of all of our data to date.

This will be an exciting update to the millions of Sprint customers in these areas and now makes many more markets official. Stay with S4GRU to plot the progress!

 

Sprint Press Release said:
Sprint Nextel Corporation has posted the following release to its Newsroom website:

Sprint 4G LTE Available in More Than 100 Additional Cities in the Coming Months

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), September 10, 2012 - Continuing its aggressive momentum in delivering a top-tier network experience for customers, Sprint (NYSE:S) announced today that the 4G LTE network build is under way in more than 100 additional cities within its existing nationwide 3G footprint. Some of the major metropolitan areas in which Sprint 4G LTE is expected to be available in the coming months are Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; New York; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C.

“We are committed to delivering a cutting-edge network as quickly as possible, one that provides a greater level of reliability and speed to our 3G and 4G customers,” said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint. “We know our customers depend on their mobile devices as their primary source of communication, business connectivity and entertainment. We want to deliver a network that delivers mobile access, productivity and entertainment at a highly competitive price point.”

The 4G LTE Network build is under way in the following areas:

  • Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastian, Puerto Rico
  • Albermarle, N.C.
  • Anderson, Ind.
  • Asheville, N.C.
  • Athens, Tenn.
  • Athens, Texas
  • Austin, Texas
  • Barnstable Town (Hyannis/Midcape), Mass.
  • Baton Rouge, La.
  • Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, Md.
  • Boston
  • Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, Mass.
  • Charlotte, N.C.
  • Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • Chicago
  • Clarksville, Tenn.
  • Cleveland, Tenn.
  • Coamo, Puerto Rico
  • College Station, Texas
  • Columbia, Tenn.
  • Columbus, Ind.
  • Cookeville, Tenn.
  • Crossville, Tenn.
  • Daytona Beach-Deltona-Ormond Beach, Fla.
  • Elkhart-Goshen, Ind.
  • Fayetteville, N.C.
  • Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, Fla.
  • Gainesville, Fla.
  • Gary, Ind.
  • Goldsboro, N.C.
  • Greenville, N.C.
  • Greeneville, Tenn.
  • Guayama, Puerto Rico
  • Hammond, La.
  • Harriman, Tenn.
  • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C.
  • Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, La.
  • Hutchinson, Kan.
  • Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
  • Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Johnson City, Tenn.
  • Jonesboro, Ark.
  • Kankakee-Bradley-Bourbonnais, Ill.
  • Kerrville, Texas
  • Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Texas
  • Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.
  • Kinston, N.C.
  • Knoxville, Tenn.
  • Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
  • Lancaster, S.C.
  • Lawrence, Kan.
  • Lincolnton, N.C.
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif.
  • Lumberton, N.C.
  • Marion, Indiana
  • McPherson, Kan.
  • Memphis, Tenn.
  • Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla.
  • Michigan City-La Porte, Ill.
  • Morgan City, La.
  • Morristown, Tenn.
  • Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
  • Muncie, Ind.
  • Nashville, Tenn.
  • New Orleans
  • New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.
  • Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, Va.
  • Ocala, Fla.
  • Ocean Pines, Md.
  • Orlando, Fla.
  • Ottawa-Streator, Ill.
  • Palatka, Fla.
  • Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Fla.
  • Palm Coast, Fla.
  • Peabody/Lawrence-Methuen/Gloucester, Mass.
  • Philadelphia
  • Ponce, Puerto Rico
  • Port St. Lucie, Fla.
  • Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
  • Rochelle, Ill.
  • Rockford, Ill.
  • Rocky Mount, N.C.
  • Salina, Kan.
  • Salisbury, Md.
  • Salisbury, N.C.
  • San German-Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Sebastian-Vero Beach, Fla.
  • Sebring, Fla.
  • Sevierville, Tenn.
  • Shelby, N.C.
  • Sherman-Denison, Texas
  • Southern Pines-Pinehurst, N.C.
  • South Bend, Ind.
  • Springfield, Mass.
  • Statesville-Mooresville, N.C.
  • St. Thomas, USVI
  • Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.
  • Topeka, Kan.
  • Tullahoma, Tenn.
  • Tupelo, Miss.
  • Warrensburg, Mo.
  • Warsaw, Ind.
  • Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria, Va.
  • Waukegan-Lake County, Ill.
  • West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, Fla.
  • Wichita, Kan.
  • Wichita Falls, Texas
  • Wilson, N.C.
  • Worcester-Fitchburg-Leominster, Mass.
  • Yauco, Puerto Rico

During the pre-launch phase, customers with capable 4G LTE devices may begin to see 4G LTE coverage in these areas and are welcome to use the network even before it officially launches. Sprint plans to announce commercial availability of 4G LTE in these cities in the coming months, at which point we expect coverage, performance and reliability to get even better. Eventually, the markets will fill in until coverage largely matches the existing nationwide 3G footprint. By the end of 2013, Sprint expects to have completed the nationwide build out of the all new 3G and 4G network.

Currently, Sprint offers the new 4G LTE service in 19 metropolitan areas: Atlanta; Athens, Ga.; Baltimore; Calhoun, Ga.; Carrollton, Ga.; Newnan, Ga.; Rome, Ga.; Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; Gainesville, Ga.; Granbury-Hood County, Texas; Houston; Huntsville, Texas; Kansas City, Mo./Kansas City, Kan.; Manhattan/Junction City, Kan.; San Antonio, Texas; Sedalia, Mo.; Waco, Texas; and St. Joseph, Mo.

According to management consulting firm Chetan Sharma Consulting, mobile data is expected to comprise 95 percent of the global mobile traffic by 2015. Sprint’s network strategy, known as Network Vision, is designed to meet these growing demands. With Network Vision, customers can expect to benefit from an updated 3G network and new 4G LTE network, enabling expanded coverage, improved network reliability, better voice quality, and faster data speeds as the improvements are rolled out across the country.

“The mobile industry is going through an incredible change – smartphones, connected devices, and the seemingly unlimited supply of new applications and services are changing consumer behavior in dramatic ways,” said Chetan Sharma, founder and president at Chetan Sharma Consulting.

As part of its overall network strategy, Sprint is also doing a complete overhaul of its 3G infrastructure so that customers can enjoy better wireless signal strength, in-building coverage, and fewer dropped/blocked calls. These enhancements are now available to customers in several markets across the country, with significant deployment in Baltimore, Boston and Washington, D.C., and will continue to improve in the weeks and months ahead.

Sprint was the first national wireless carrier to introduce 4G on the WiMAX network in 2008 and began rolling out 4G LTE to customers on July 15 in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and surrounding cities

.Unlimited + Sprint 4G LTE = Game-changing wireless offer for customers

In today’s competitive wireless market, the value of unlimited has never been more apparent and Sprint is clearly the best choice in wireless. Customers with capable devices can combine Sprint’s all-new 3G and 4G LTE networks and enjoy unlimited data while on the Sprint network. Data usage continues to increase and consumers value Truly Unlimited data because it’s simple and straightforward – no metering, no throttling, and no need to share data, which increases the likelihood of a surprise monthly bill because of overage charges.

Coupled with unbeatable plans and fast devices, Sprint has been working hard to deliver the best customer experience in the past few years. The 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries measured, over the last four years. And Sprint has been ranked Highest in Satisfaction with the Purchase Experience among Full-service Wireless Providers three times in a row by J.D. Power and Associates.

Sprint’s Network Vision project expects to be largely complete with the all-new network by the end of 2013. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, please visitwww.sprint.com/4GLTE.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

  • Like 12

187 Comments


Recommended Comments



hihater

Posted

This list from Sprint includes communities expected to have enough service to launch through December. Places that will launch in January or later are not on the list. We have projected that Northern Jersey would launch in January, so we were not surprised to not see it on the list. http://s4gru.com/ind...t-running-list/Northern Jersey is in a separate market than New York City and they will not be launched together.Robert

 

JD8500 posted some information. "New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.

 

This is wayne NJ"

 

North Jersey seems to be considered part of the NY Metro area. So we are on the list. Well at least the Northeast part of NJ is.

S4GRU

Posted

JD8500 posted some information. "New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.This is wayne NJ" North Jersey seems to be considered part of the NY Metro area. So we are on the list. Well at least the Northeast part of NJ is.

 

Northern Jersey is a separate deployment. Period. That's not to say that some of it may be live in December, but the market will not be formally launched before the end of the year. If you want to hang your hat on the inclusion of Wayne in this list as some sort of imminence of LTE in the Northern Jersey market, you are going to be disappointed.

 

Robert

stephendiamond

Posted

Robert,

Thanks for the reply. I spoke to someone in the executive office at sprint about my concerns about generally bad coverage in my town. We are a resort area. The summer population goes up about ten fold. They told me they could not comment on specific unannounced roll outs, but did say the tower in my area was getting a T1 backhaul that will go live in the next week, does the fact that they are putting in a T1 have anything to do with LTE specifically, or do you think this is just to address capacity issues?

 

Thanks

AJColaSC

Posted

Lancaster, SC? Really? The city with barely over 10,000 people?

pyroscott

Posted

Robert,Thanks for the reply. I spoke to someone in the executive office at sprint about my concerns about generally bad coverage in my town. We are a resort area. The summer population goes up about ten fold. They told me they could not comment on specific unannounced roll outs, but did say the tower in my area was getting a T1 backhaul that will go live in the next week, does the fact that they are putting in a T1 have anything to do with LTE specifically, or do you think this is just to address capacity issues?Thanks

It is just network maintenance. Doesn't have any bearing on Network Vision. You should see improvements until NV upgrades show up though...

  • Like 1
pyroscott

Posted

Lancaster, SC? Really? The city with barely over 10,000 people?

They are trying to keep pace with Verizon in the PR "announce every podunk town that you upgrade like it is a separate market" game.

  • Like 1
centermedic

Posted

Even allowing for the large negative bias of online forums, which attract the ranters, whiners and haters disproportionately, I have to wonder if this press release was a smart marketing move after all. We here know there was not much substantive news to motivate it, all PR.But mostly, by listing these 100 cities large and small, Sprint seems to have pissed off everybody who lives in the other thousands of cities that were not listed. In the context of a customer base that is justifiably frustrated with the legacy network, it doesn't take much to light a firestorm.

i equate this with sprint getting rid of the customers that called customer service too much a few years back. The list serves to hold on to those customers in the listed cities/markets and maybe start to attract more customers in those markets. Just as important, if a customer leaves because their market is not listed then they were probably going to leave anyhow. Why use resources to hold onto a disgruntled customer that ultimately you would not be able to keep?

  • Like 1
Sim-X

Posted

Where is Minneapolis? How does this not make the list, it's a huge market and acoarding to this site it should be underway in the next few months I'm disssapointed.

jerryk

Posted

What happened to the West Coast. The San Francisco Bay Area was on the original first tier and not on this list? It seems very strange. Maybe the Cupertino kids said no iPhone 5 for you, Sprint.:->

Rawvega

Posted

What does that mean? The Sprint iPhone 5 LTE was announced yesterday.

bfoltyn

Posted

Seriously?! Nothing in the Metro Detroit area? We have nothing here, but slow 3G speeds

Dkoellerwx

Posted

Where is Minneapolis? How does this not make the list, it's a huge market and acoarding to this site it should be underway in the next few months I'm disssapointed.

 

Because it launches after the start of next year. Check out some of the other comments, these cities are what is expected by the end of THIS year. Nothing was included about next year.

 

Same goes for the west coast and Detroit.

juice

Posted

I thought that San Francisco was under way

 

It is.

juice

Posted

Where is Minneapolis?

 

Minneapolis is behind. Dont expect it for a while.

njjdnt

Posted

Minneapolis is behind. Dont expect it for a while.

And you know this how?

pyroscott

Posted

Samsung JUST started Minnesota, and it is a massive market. There are no sites complete, not because it is behind, but because it is a second round market.

 

A very large percentage of these cities are part of the 1st round markets, which is why these "less important" cities are "getting LTE before big city _____"

  • Like 1
WiWavelength

Posted

i equate this with sprint getting rid of the customers that called customer service too much a few years back.

 

Correct. The customer is NOT always right. Some customers just are not worth the trouble. Let them go be another carrier's problem.

 

AJ

  • Like 2
hui.hong.lim@gmail.com

Posted

I have been with sprint a long time. I noticed Minneapolis is not on the list to get LTE.. It seems like Minneapolis always gets it later. Starting to feel like a 2nd rate citizen.. :D Many friends has switch to other carriers and I have stayed with Sprint. So far, I have the best experiences with this carrier. But in recent months, it seem the service has not been too good. I understand the lightsquared deal did not go well.. Wished that has really happend.. But I guess we have stupid Governments.

Anyway, I have even heard that Version is bringing LTE to Atkin county, it is way out there in the woods. And selling the fact that they can run tv,internet and cell phones with their LTE. Wish I have that option here in Isanti MN. :D

S4GRU

Posted

I have been with sprint a long time. I noticed Minneapolis is not on the list to get LTE.. It seems like Minneapolis always gets it later. Starting to feel like a 2nd rate citizen.. :D Many friends has switch to other carriers and I have stayed with Sprint. So far, I have the best experiences with this carrier. But in recent months, it seem the service has not been too good. I understand the lightsquared deal did not go well.. Wished that has really happend.. But I guess we have stupid Governments.Anyway, I have even heard that Version is bringing LTE to Atkin county, it is way out there in the woods. And selling the fact that they can run tv,internet and cell phones with their LTE. Wish I have that option here in Isanti MN. :D

 

Because Sprint is going network wide with its upgrades, Sprint is bringing LTE to even its rural customers. There are places in Texas where the first LTE to arrive is Sprint. This will happen in other places too.

 

Fortunately, Minnesota is a second round market and work is just about to get under way. The list in this article is forecasting cities that Sprint believes they will have launchable service before the end of the year. However, there will be many more communities that will be started and progress seen before the end of the year, beyond this list. Including many places in the Minnesota market.

 

Robert

  • Like 1
andycapps

Posted

Any news on Columbus, OH? I know that since it isn't on this list that it's not in the cards to be "launched" before Jan 1st. That makes sense. Just wondering if you know if they plan on doing any work here before the end of the year. I would assume that when Cleveland starts that they'd start here as well. I have a tower in my neighborhood so I can at least keep an eye on it and see when they convert it, pretty easily.

S4GRU

Posted

Any news on Columbus, OH? I know that since it isn't on this list that it's not in the cards to be "launched" before Jan 1st. That makes sense. Just wondering if you know if they plan on doing any work here before the end of the year. I would assume that when Cleveland starts that they'd start here as well. I have a tower in my neighborhood so I can at least keep an eye on it and see when they convert it, pretty easily.

 

Cleveland and Columbus are in different markets. Work in Cleveland will likely begin this Winter. But Columbus is not likely to begin until later into 2013. Final scheduling for 2013 markets has not been completed, yet.

 

Robert

andycapps

Posted

Cleveland and Columbus are in different markets. Work in Cleveland will likely begin this Winter. But Columbus is not likely to begin until later into 2013. Final scheduling for 2013 markets has not been completed, yet.Robert

 

Thanks for the quick response.

pyroscott

Posted

I don't understand why there is so much strife about Minneapolis not being on this list. It is a WiMax market, and the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area is the 16th largest metro area in the US. Here is a breakdown of the first round markets and where they rank on the US largest metro areas:

New York City - 1

Los Angeles - 2

Chicago - 3

Dallas/Ft. Worth - 4

Houston - 5

Washington, D.C. - 7

Atlanta/Athens - 9

Boston - 10

San Francisco - 11

Baltimore - 20

San Antonio - 24

Kansas City - 29 (Sprint’s home market)

Austin – 34 (Barely any work done besides the FIT test)

Central Jersey - ?

9 of the top 11 largest metro areas in the US, their home market, a test market, and 3 other markets... Seems like a logical starting point to me.

 

If anyone should have a beef with this schedule, and (partially) consider their market snubbed, it should be Philadelphia – 6th largest metro, Miami – 8th, Detroit - 13th (and no WiMax) and Phoenix – 14th (also no WiMax)

 

Why should Sprint upgrade Minneapolis before those other markets? Because YOU live there? Come on...

  • Like 3
pyroscott

Posted

Also, to add to this, I do not have ready access to see how many customers Sprint has on postpaid contracts in these markets. They could very well have a lower percentage of customers in some of the large metro areas that were "snubbed" and have a higher percentage in Baltimore, San Antonio, Kansas City, Austin and Central Jersey.

 

Being as there is no 4G in Detroit and Phoenix, those cities could have fallen on the list of priority as they have been bleeding customers for several years in those markets. It is still somewhat of a priority, but not critical. All these decisions are based on making money. They can't afford to train enough workers to upgrade the entire network at once, so they have to start somewhere. With the exception of central Jersey and possibly San Antonio, I really don't see any flaws in their choices for the first round.

  • Like 2

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