Kind of disappointing to read that 800MHz won't be included, at least in the initial deployment. There is a large gaping hole in their Puerto Rico coverage as well as two smaller holes. The CDMA800 would help to shrink those gaps (though obviously the larger Puerto Rico gap also needs more cell sites). The CDMA800 would probably ensure total or near total coverage of the smaller islands with low cell site densities such as Vieques (2 sites), Culebra (1 site) and the USVI islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John (1 site).

Good points. I have had a lot of interaction with Puerto Ricans in the past few weeks. They would really appreciate more coverage.

@Rawvega, not sure if you are from puerto rico or if you have ever been there but those holes you see are areas that are sparsely populated areas with lots of mountains peaking at almost 4400 feet. The coverage you see on that map covers I would say about 95% of the population of the island.

On a personal note, even though I am confident that puerto rico will be upgraded soon my main issue is with the virgin islands. Even though they are part of the puerto rico market they always get treated and I mean always get treated like the red headed stepchild. So if I was a betting man I would say puerto rico will be completed within the next 12 months but at least not for another 2 years for the virgin islands and thats being generous.

In either case though if its all true then this will be excellent for me since I fly to either island at least once a month on business, not to mention I am currently in St. Thomas as I type this.

No, I am not from PR, but you are correct, of course-those areas are sparsely populated. However, it appears that AT&T covers those sparsely populated areas better no doubt due to their 850MHz spectrum. Even the old Centennial Wireless covered those areas better even though they only had PCS spectrum. In fact, even though AT&T bought them out, I'm pretty sure that they've left the CDMA network up for Sprint (and probably other CDMA carriers) to roam off of in those interior areas of the island. However, I suppose for a cash strapped company like Sprint, that can't be a priority right now. I'm wondering when the other shoe will drop and AT&T decides to shut down their CDMA network. I wonder what roaming alternatives there are for those sparsely populated areas. Open Mobile? Does Claro still operate their old CDMA network?

As far as the USVI, it seems like the cell sites they have *should* provide adequate georaphic coverage for St. Croix and St. Thomas especially after CDMA800 is eventually added (St. John appears to need at least one more cell site for the east end no matter what). However, what about capacity? Five cell sites for @ 50K people on STX seems a bit thin capacity wise. Eight sites for @ 51K people on STT is a bit better I suppose. I wonder what AT&T and T-Mobile's cell density is like in the USVI for comparison.

themuffinman, how is the coverage and quality of service there in St. Thomas as of right now?

well they should do it sooner ,local provider open mobile will start lte at the end of this month and claro(formerly verizon) will do it in the next weeks plus att already begun with about 50 percent of the island covered.

No, I am not from PR, but you are correct, of course-those areas are sparsely populated. However, it appears that AT&T covers those sparsely populated areas better no doubt due to their 850MHz spectrum. Even the old Centennial Wireless covered those areas better even though they only had PCS spectrum. In fact, even though AT&T bought them out, I'm pretty sure that they've left the CDMA network up for Sprint (and probably other CDMA carriers) to roam off of in those interior areas of the island. However, I suppose for a cash strapped company like Sprint, that can't be a priority right now. I'm wondering when the other shoe will drop and AT&T decides to shut down their CDMA network. I wonder what roaming alternatives there are for those sparsely populated areas. Open Mobile? Does Claro still operate their old CDMA network?As far as the USVI, it seems like the cell sites they have *should* provide adequate georaphic coverage for St. Croix and St. Thomas especially after CDMA800 is eventually added (St. John appears to need at least one more cell site for the east end no matter what). However, what about capacity? Five cell sites for @ 50K people on STX seems a bit thin capacity wise. Eight sites for @ 51K people on STT is a bit better I suppose. I wonder what AT&T and T-Mobile's cell density is like in the USVI for comparison.themuffinman, how is the coverage and quality of service there in St. Thomas as of right now?

The coverage here is ok for the most part. When I am here I do suffer from dropped calls on a daily basis but that has a lot to do with some tower damage from the last couple hurricane seasons. Before that though service was excellent.

So the deployment of the CDMA/LTE modernization program is underway. A few things to note - there is no 800MHz spectrum for Sprint in PR or USVI, the upgrade is a consolidation of legacy CDMA and integration of LTE into one Multi-modal Base Station (MMBS) and one antenna that covers the 1.9MHz spectrum that replaces the legacy CDMA/EVDO network. Part of the challenge with the islands is that up until now, 98% of the backhaul was via microwave only and that will definitely continue - specifically for USVI - as fiber had been lacking but is gaining ground quickly, especially with the recent Centennial/AT&T acquisition, which Sprint is now looking to leverage even though it sounds counterintuitive. The fact is that regardless of the carrier or location, the throughput required to provide LTE data speeds can only be accomplished via microwave or fiber. I mention this only because I've noticed other posts curious as to why and where LTE gets deployed and the part of the answer is because it's where the backhaul either exists or can be built quickly. In order to "upgrade" a network, you have to maintain the existing or "legacy" network and the challenges there are many... existing RAD (antenna) heights, lease space for co-locating equipment, renegotiation for lease space with rooftop/tower owners, etc., the list goes on... needless to say, everyone will benefit from the Sprint modernization effort from end users looking for new LTE speed access to many local businesses that provide support services to a major wireless provider as this build continues and by default creates demand, jobs and all the rest that goes with the wonderful world of technology evolving... just my two cents

A few things to note - there is no 800MHz spectrum for Sprint in PR or USVI

Why do you say this?

Wow, the Territories before CONUS. I bet Guam is next up for NV.

According to AJ, our in house Sprint spectrum resource, he said this about 800 licensing in Puerto Rico... "Regarding SMR 800 MHz in PR/VI, this is what I have dug up. It is still in the process of rebanding. Sprint does hold licenses, so Sprint may be able to deploy CDMA1X 800 and/or LTE 800 sometime in the future, but obviously not during initial Network Vision roll out. (Additionally) there is an iDEN 800 carrier in PR/VI: North Sight Communications. And it holds 3 MHz x 3 MHz of contiguous SMR 800 MHz spectrum." http://wireless2.fcc...se.jsp?licKey=6

Wow, the Territories before CONUS. I bet Guam is next up for NV.

While I'm sure that you're being facetious, since Sprint doesn't have native coverage there (though they do have spectrum licenses in Guam as well as American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands) I seriously doubt that Guam is next up for NV.

As far as PR & USVI, Sprint's customers there pay their $$ for service just like their customers in the CONUS so why should they automatically be relegated to the end of the list?

According to AJ, our in house Sprint spectrum resource, he said this about 800 licensing in Puerto Rico... "Regarding SMR 800 MHz in PR/VI, this is what I have dug up. It is still in the process of rebanding. Sprint does hold licenses, so Sprint may be able to deploy CDMA1X 800 and/or LTE 800 sometime in the future, but obviously not during initial Network Vision roll out. (Additionally) there is an iDEN 800 carrier in PR/VI: North Sight Communications. And it holds 3 MHz x 3 MHz of contiguous SMR 800 MHz spectrum." http://wireless2.fcc...se.jsp?licKey=6

To that end, I found this article which seems to be related to what's going on with the 800MHz situation down there: http://urgentcomm.com/briefs/puerto-rico-800mhz-plan-20110308/

While I'm sure that you're being facetious, since Sprint doesn't have native coverage there (though they do have spectrum licenses in Guam as well as American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands) I seriously doubt that Guam is next up for NV.As far as PR & USVI, Sprint's customers there pay their $$ for service just like their customers in the CONUS so why should they automatically be relegated to the end of the list?

I was being facetious. Thanks for catching it.

Puerto Rico's population density of 1,100 people per square miles is among the world's highest - only Bangladesh, The Maldives, Barbados, Taiwan, South Korea and the city-states of Hong Kong and Singapore are more crowded. And that my friends is a fact. There are 3.8 million people in this small, beautiful island. I'm really hope that Sprint get it together in puerto Rico, since they are loosing a lot of customers. All my family used to have Sprint, and they used to love it!! But the whent with AT&T because they have more coverage in and around the island. They would love to go back to Sprint if coverage and data gets better. Bileave me, they are not the only ones tire of the high prices of AT&T. There are a lot of people in Puerto Rico willing to switch if Sprint improve coverage.

March 15 is the day. The vice or president of Sprint will come to Puerto Rico next week. This visit is confirmed!!!

lets see if that visit will be positive>..

What does the numbers on the map means? Are they expanding coverage to areas they are not currently cover like the center of the island?

What does the numbers on the map means? Are they expanding coverage to areas they are not currently cover like the center of the island?

There are numbers on our map?

Robert

What does the numbers on the map means? Are they expanding coverage to areas they are not currently cover like the center of the island?

I think those are highway numbers.

THAT IS CORRECT HIGHWAY NUMBERS AND STREET NUMBERS...

WELL SOME MANAGER TOLD ME TODAY THAT SAMSUNG IS ALREADY WORKING IN PUERTO RICO DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH DROP CALLS THEY DECIDE TO IMPLEMENT NETWORK VISION FOR ONCE ....ANY LIGHT ON THAT? SGRU...

Not light yet :-/ Yesterday I saw a workers in a tower at Bo. Guayabal, Villalba, PR. Maybe PR is not complete at %100 yet.

Not light yet :-/ Yesterday I saw a workers in a tower at Bo. Guayabal, Villalba, PR. Maybe PR is not complete at %100 yet.

They have not even mobilized to Puerto Rico yet to start Network Vision. I confirmed this a week ago. I am planning an update article soon. I have the start date now.

Robert

Thanks!!!

s4gru, thanks for this news. Glad to see it's not an ignored market. I hope to see more news soon!!!

p.s. Kendog, are you the kendog from sprintusers? I'm seeing a lot of folks from there here.