nTelos 4G update

[DCC233]

I saw this posted last week on nTelos's investor relations pre-release, and thought it was interesting. Hopefully they will provide more detail in the conference call about their plan, but according to the few sentences in the release they are looking for a second half of 2013 release of LTE.

 

 

http://ir.ntelos.com/Cache/1001169397.PDF?D=&O=PDF&IID=4110676&Y=&T=&FID=1001169397

 

Scroll down to the "Operational Update" section.

[marioc21]

If you look at the financial presentation they reference it gives more details about the LTE plans. Nothing concrete, but you get information about time frame for completion and number of cell sites, pops, etc.

 

http://ir.ntelos.com...76&DID=15974178

 

Here are the bullet points from page 14 or 15 from the presentation:

 

LTE Deployment

• Launch first markets by 2H 2013
  
• Complete initial buildout by year-end 2014. 70% of covered pops.
  
• Devices supporting band class 2, 4 and 25
  
• Estimated $60 to $65 million of CapEx spending.
  

 

Good information on the status of the NTelos-Sprint relationship further on too.

[Rawvega]

That seems redundant for them to have devices that support Band class 2 & 25 since band class 25 includes all of band class 2. It's also interesting to see that they have 11 BRS (think Clearwire) licenses. It seems like their devices should also support Band class 41 instead of Band class 2.

[S4GRU]

My concern with nTelos is what band they place LTE in. It seems to me that they do not have the PCS resources on their own to deploy a 5x5 LTE carrier. Unless Sprint allows them to use G Block (which I saw no reference to), then they may deploy it in AWS.

 

It appears to me they have enough AWS resources free to deploy LTE on it. Since their planned LTE devices support AWS and PCS, the PCS support may just be for Sprint roaming. We will have to wait for more details to confirm anything though.

 

The problem with AWS LTE deployment is Sprint devices would not be able to use it. Except for maybe the iPhone 5.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 using Forum Runner

[marioc21]

My concern with nTelos is what band they place LTE in. It seems to me that they do not have the PCS resources on their own to deploy a 5x5 LTE carrier. Unless Sprint allows them to use G Block (which I saw no reference to), then they may deploy it in AWS.

 

It appears to me they have enough AWS resources free to deploy LTE on it. Since their planned LTE devices support AWS and PCS, the PCS support may just be for Sprint roaming. We will have to wait for more details to confirm anything though.

 

The problem with AWS LTE deployment is Sprint devices would not be able to use it. Except for maybe the iPhone 5.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 using Forum Runner

 

Seems like they're in a "rough" patch right now. There's mention of a pricing dispute in the presentation. As well as noting that the agreement with Sprint runs through 2015, but Sprint has rights to "overbuild" starting in 2014. I would think for Sprint it would make more sense to keep using Ntelos rather than try to build out their towers in the same areas.

[S4GRU]

 

Seems like they're in a "rough" patch right now. There's mention of a pricing dispute in the presentation. As well as noting that the agreement with Sprint runs through 2015' date=' but Sprint has rights to "overbuild" starting in 2014. I would think for Sprint it would make more sense to keep using Ntelos rather than try to build out their towers in the same areas.[/quote']

 

I don't think Sprint has any interest in overbuild in nTelos coverage areas. However, they have to make nTelos think that's an option Sprint may elect in order to get the best terms possible on negotiating the next agreement. And that will be more plausible with SoftBank backing. Although, not more likely, in my opinion.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 using Forum Runner

[lordsutch]

Well, since Sprint does sell service directly in nTelos-land, they have an interest in making sure LTE is available to their customers in that footprint if they want to be an "everywhere-4G network" (which presumably they do, putting LTE on almost every native tower). I can't imagine Sprint agreeing to a new wholesale agreement without LTE.

 

As for AWS support, they may be hedging their bets or concerned about roaming options.

 

My guess is they'll deploy both; economically, what makes sense is to get Sprint to allow them to deploy on G block to capture that wholesale traffic, and deploy whatever AWS they need to keep their licenses. Heck, given the terrain they'd also benefit from Sprint giving them access to the 800 SMR spectrum for 1X to boot (1900 and mountains don't mix well).

[Rocket87]

Where is ntelos towers located? Never heard of them.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[Pillowsplat]

They are based in Waynesboro VA. I thought Shentel and nTelos were the same company. But that looks to be not true. I want to say Charlottesville VA and south and I 81 south of Harrisburg VA or wherever Shentel stops.

[Elusive]

Where is ntelos towers located? Never heard of them.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

nTelos towers are located all throughout the state of West Virginia as well...

 

My question is: Will data use on these nTelos towers be considered "roaming" that you're limited to that 300 mb of data roaming use per month.... or is it still considered using the home Sprint network and you can use it truly unlimited? I'm confused because my hometown in Beckley, WV 25801 has a Sprint store that has sold cell service since around 2000 but was told they use nTelos towers in WV mostly now.

 

I'm mainly concerned because I'm switching over 3 other members in my family to Sprint from AT&T this month on Black Friday but I don't want them to get penalized for too much data roaming usage on nTelos towers...

[S4GRU]

 

nTelos towers are located all throughout the state of West Virginia as well...

 

My question is: Will data use on these nTelos towers be considered "roaming" that you're limited to that 300 mb of data roaming use per month.... or is it still considered using the home Sprint network and you can use it truly unlimited? I'm confused because my hometown in Beckley' date=' WV 25801 has a Sprint store that has sold cell service since around 2000 but was told they use nTelos towers in WV mostly now.

 

I'm mainly concerned because I'm switching over 3 other members in my family to Sprint from AT&T this month on Black Friday but I don't want them to get penalized for too much data roaming usage on nTelos towers...[/quote']

 

Use on the nTelos network is native Sprint usage to customers. It is designed to be Sprint service where we aren't supposed to notice the difference. Same usage TOS applies on nTelos sites as Sprint sites. You will not be roaming.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 using Forum Runner

[lordsutch]

nTelos tower usage in SW VA and WV is considered Sprint native usage; the 300mb cap only applies if roaming on nTelos outside the wholesale area (eg in Tidewater Virginia where nTelos also has service but Sprint has its own towers); you'd see a roaming indicator on the device if using a Sprint PRL anywhere the cap applies.

[S4GRU]

nTelos tower usage in SW VA and WV is considered Sprint native usage; the 300mb cap only applies if roaming on nTelos outside the wholesale area (eg in Tidewater Virginia where nTelos also has service but Sprint has its own towers); you'd see a roaming indicator on the device if using a Sprint PRL anywhere the cap applies.

 

That's correct. The only place you can roam on nTelos PCS is in markets that also have a native Sprint footprint.

 

Robert via Nexus 7 using Forum Runner

[DCC233]

I know this isn't exactly new information, but I was reviewing the slides from their recent presentation at the J.P. Morgan

SMid Cap Conference on 11/29/2012. The slides can be found here (http://ir.ntelos.com/Cache/1500044742.PDF?D=&O=PDF&IID=4110676&Y=&T=&FID=1500044742)

 

nTelos stats that I found interesting based on their CapEx estimates for the 4G upgrade:

Total cell sites: 1,396

Total estimated cost: $60-$65 million

 

I'm still digging through Shentel's website for comparison of capital expenditures related to network vision deployment, however I'm having no such luck right now even though I know I have seen the information before.

 

Some highlights from the deck are noted below:

 

• Deployment Plan

• Launch first LTE markets in 2H 2013

• Complete initial build-out by year-end

2014; 70% of covered POPs

• Devices supporting Band Classes 2,

4 and 25

• Estimated CapEx of approximately

$60mm to $65mm

[lordsutch]

Interesting to see nTelos' definitive Sprint wholesale market boundaries on a map. Also, here's the key sentence from the deck on LTE: "Serve the needs of our largest wholesale customer, Sprint." So almost certainly nTelos plans on deploying LTE on 1900 as well as AWS, especially since they only have AWS spectrum in some of their markets.