Sprint to buy spectrum, customers from USCC

[RichardXy]

This is awesome for people in the Chicago area!

[leozno1]

Quesion on this for a Note 2 user in STL will this effectively double the number of users that could get full speed data or would it require a new phone with another PCS band in it. Hope S4GRU will do s wall post on what it means to users in both 10 an 20 dandwidth areas.

 

That would be great, I would love to know more on the subject.

[dmchssc]

This means that Chicago goes from a relatively spectrum poor market for Sprint to a relatively rich one.

[Rickie546]

Go to uscellularinfo.com for more info...very interesting story!

[S4GRU]

AJ has agreed to work on this story for the wall. Timing of the story still up in the air. Could be this afternoon or tomorrow. Stay tuned.

 

Robert via Samsung Note II using Forum Runner

[iansltx]

As an aside, from what I understand of the LTE spec, 5x5-only devices can actually still use LTE carriers with more than 300 subcarriers (5x5). THey just use a subset of what is available, at lower speed. Remember that LTE channels are a bunch of 15KHz subchannels, rather than one big one, so as long as the base station can keep track of everything (Sprint's probably can) then you don't have to, for example, deploy a 5x5 channel in PCS A-F if you want to put 10x10 in PCS G+H.

[EliBohnert]

So Sprint is just going to shut down the USCC network in the area that they buy out?

[S4GRU]

So Sprint is just going to shut down the USCC network in the area that they buy out?

 

Sprint is not getting the USCC network. Just subscribers and spectrum.

 

Robert via Samsung Note II using Forum Runner

[swintec]

Why couldnt this be maine too...If this happened in maine and Sprint used USCC existing network and towers this would fix the issues that Sprint has with coverage here, outside of cities and towns. I this market is their bread and butter though so maybe another year or two and USCC will be willing to sell.

 

EDIT- Just saw the update by robert, what a bummer.

[DaQue]

Hmmm....

Can more users get ok ( over 5Mbps ) on 2 5x5 than a 10x10 or does it work out the same with the 10 just slowing dow to add users. Ignoring sigal strength.

[ericdabbs]

Map of the affected USCC markets. I am glad Chicago is included since they only have on average 20 MHz of PCS spectrum so this deal will help them dearly. Too bad its gotta wait until mid 2013 to close this transaction.

 

Source: http://www.uscellularinfo.com/

[S4GRU]

Hmmm....

Can more users get ok ( over 5Mbps ) on 2 5x5 than a 10x10 or does it work out the same with the 10 just slowing dow to add users. Ignoring sigal strength.

 

The capacity of two 5x5's is the same as one 10x10.

 

Robert via Samsung Note II using Forum Runner

[supert0nes]

Map of the affected USCC markets. I am glad Chicago is included since they only have on average 20 MHz of PCS spectrum so this deal will help them dearly. Too bad its gotta wait until mid 2013 to close this transaction.

 

Source: http://www.uscellularinfo.com/

 

It's not like Sprint is really using all of their spectrum anyway until that time. Sprint still has to realign their spectrum and deploy more LTE outside of G block after Network Vision is complete. Maybe they could have deployed extra 3g before then.

[DaQue]

Sure glad I didn't jump ship to Tmobile....

 

 

I never say this coming. Am I the only one blind sided by this?

[bigsnake49]

Sprint needed more PCS spectrum in certain markets they were deficient in. This is just the first step to strengthen their PCS spectrum position. There will be others (excess spectrum from the T-Mobile/Metro merger, Leap).

[delta772er]

I don't understand why their Minnesota PCS spectrum wasn't added to this deal.

 

One thing I noticed is that most of the areas purchased outside of the Chicago market were former iPCS markets where in many areas there isn't even any EVDO yet not to mention significant coverage holes.

 

Any correlation? Obviously the Chicago spectrum is good on its own.

[Ascertion]

 

The capacity of two 5x5's is the same as one 10x10.

 

Robert via Samsung Note II using Forum Runner

would sprint devices support 2 5x5s or is it considered the same as a 10x10?

[JeffDTD]

Sprint is not getting the USCC network. Just subscribers and spectrum.

 

Robert via Samsung Note II using Forum Runner

 

It would be interesting to compare USCC's native coverage in the areas these customers are being acquired to Sprint's native coverage. I suspect USCC may have native coverage in some areas that sprint does not, which could create interesting churn.

Of course, Sprint could also plan on matching or improving USCC coverage maps by the time the purchased customers end up native on Sprint.

 

Or, perhaps Sprint and USCC have or will reach a network sharing agreement (similar to Alltel) where all Sprint customers will some some portions of USCC as native network and in return USCC customer get preferred roaming or usage of the forthcoming LTE network.

[S4GRU]

 

It would be interesting to compare USCC's native coverage in the areas these customers are being acquired to Sprint's native coverage. I suspect USCC may have native coverage in some areas that sprint does not, which could create interesting churn.

Of course, Sprint could also plan on matching or improving USCC coverage maps by the time the purchased customers end up native on Sprint.

 

The FCC may require Sprint match coverage for their rural customers as part of the deal.

 

Robert via Samsung Note II via Tapatalk

 

 

[bigsnake49]

It would be interesting to compare USCC's native coverage in the areas these customers are being acquired to Sprint's native coverage. I suspect USCC may have native coverage in some areas that sprint does not, which could create interesting churn.

Of course, Sprint could also plan on matching or improving USCC coverage maps by the time the purchased customers end up native on Sprint.

 

Or, perhaps Sprint and USCC have or will reach a network sharing agreement (similar to Alltel) where all Sprint customers will some some portions of USCC as native network and in return USCC customer get preferred roaming or usage of the forthcoming LTE network.

 

I think USCC will not offer service in the areas they sold to Sprint. Are you guys reading it differently?

[ChadBroChillz]

I wonder why they did not just wait until after softbank deal became finalized and just bought out USCC. Good to see they increased their spectrum holdings.

[mellimel2212]

This is awesome for people in the Chicago area!

 

Yeah those who wanted to come to sprint in the past here in Chicago can now. I know a couple people that's only on us cellular because they think they can't get sprint

 

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[mellimel2212]

Us cellular is not gonna offer coverage on these markets hence why they are giving us the customers to and let's not forget sprint did just buy clear wire and their spectrum too

 

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[MacinJosh]

This is probably the easiest way to get a good roaming or affiliate type agreement going. Sprint buys their under-performing markets and a nice native roaming agreement on each side for a dirt cheap price, and everyone is happy. lol.

[mellimel2212]

Us cellular is not gonna offer coverage on these markets hence why they are giving us the customers to and let's not forget sprint did just buy clear wire and their spectrum too and besides these markets uscc seems determined to stay....is is possible is another story seeing as they came from here smh lol

 

Sent from my White Epic 4g Touch rockin Jellybean using Tapatalk 2

 

Sent from my White Epic 4g Touch rockin Jellybean using Tapatalk 2