Sprint Small Cell Deployment

[Pedro1278]

Is sprint deploying smalls cells now or later? It would really help in a lot of areas were there is high data traffic like in malls and stadiums.

Edited June 21, 2013 by Pedro1278

[supert0nes]

Here's the last public information Sprint gave about small cells.  Insiders may know more.  I would say at some point in 2014 once NV is close to done.  A similar time frame for LTE-A

 

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprints-tarazi-promises-hetnet-focus-network-vision-20/2012-10-04

 

 

Sprint's Tarazi promises HetNet focus in Network Vision 2.0

October 4, 2012 | By Mike Dano

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Iyad Tarazi, Sprint Nextel's (NYSE:S) vice president of network development and engineering, said the next phase of the carrier's Network Vision network modernization plan involves integrating small cells and Wi-Fi to create a seamless connection for users. In comments to FierceBroadbandWireless, Tarazi said Sprint's Network Vision 2.0 will integrate the carrier's CDMA network and its LTE networks at 1900 MHz and 800 MHz with picocells, femtocells and Wi-Fi. Specifically, Sprint is ramping up an LTE picocell deployment strategy with an initial focus on indoor deployments followed by outdoor deployments in 2013-2014. Alcatel-Lucent's (NASDAQ: ALU) lightRadio metrocell architecture and Samsung's small cell gear will play a role. Tarazi discusses Sprint's overall HetNet strategy in this Hot Seat.

Read more: Sprint's Tarazi promises HetNet focus in Network Vision 2.0 - FierceWireless http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprints-tarazi-promises-hetnet-focus-network-vision-20/2012-10-04#ixzz2Wp2el5LO
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[S4GRU]

Sprint is already developing Small Cells for FIT deployment this year.  Small Cells should be a big part of capex starting in 2014.

 

Robert

[Pedro1278]

Thats good to hear

 

Sprint is already developing Small Cells for FIT deployment this year.  Small Cells should be a big part of capex starting in 2014.

 

Robert

 

 

Here's the last public information Sprint gave about small cells.  Insiders may know more.  I would say at some point in 2014 once NV is close to done.  A similar time frame for LTE-A

 

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprints-tarazi-promises-hetnet-focus-network-vision-20/2012-10-04

Thats good to hear, thanks for the info

[WiWavelength]

"There are no small cells, only small e-penises."

 

 

AJ

[IamMrFamous07]

Any update on thier small cell deployment?

[ericdabbs]

Any update on thier small cell deployment?

 

I don't think small cell deployment will occur until 2015.  With the Clearwire purchase their macro cell deployment plans went exponentially up.  Sprint needs to get on the ball and start deploying 2.5 GHz on every single Sprint tower as soon as 800 MHz LTE NV 1.0 is wrapping up.

[IamMrFamous07]

I don't think small cell deployment will occur until 2015. With the Clearwire purchase their macro cell deployment plans went exponentially up. Sprint needs to get on the ball and start deploying 2.5 GHz on every single Sprint tower as soon as 800 MHz LTE NV 1.0 is wrapping up.

 

Supposedly they are starting in q2 with 2.5 deployment.

[ericdabbs]

Supposedly they are starting in q2 with 2.5 deployment.

 

Hopefully we will get some more information on Sprint tower 2.5 GHz at the Q4 CC.  In terms of the Q2 2014 start, I wouldn't be surprised if its delayed.  They still haven't finished upgrading all the Clearwire sites which to me should be #1 priority since the 2.5 GHz infrastructure is already in place.

[IamMrFamous07]

Hopefully we will get some more information on Sprint tower 2.5 GHz at the Q4 CC. In terms of the Q2 2014 start, I wouldn't be surprised if its delayed. They still haven't finished upgrading all the Clearwire sites which to me should be #1 priority since the 2.5 GHz infrastructure is already in place.

Cant thwy still start the deployment on the network vision sites even though they havent finished the clearwire sites...

 

I know they said 2.5 will be their main focus but i really hope they deploy it faster than the 1900 roll out. Seems like data demands increase higher and higher each day

[ericdabbs]

Cant thwy still start the deployment on the network vision sites even though they havent finished the clearwire sites...

 

I know they said 2.5 will be their main focus but i really hope they deploy it faster than the 1900 roll out. Seems like data demands increase higher and higher each day

 

In a perfect world  they probably could but the problem right now I would imagine is equipment and manpower.  Unless Sprint has the same NV crews who do all parts of the NV equipment installation for 800/1900/2500 MHz (which currently doesn't happen...Sprint has different crews for all aspects of installation.  Ex: cabinet installers, LTE integration crews, antenna panel/RRU installers, electrical power crews, backhaul crews,etc), I don't see this happening.  Sprint's goal right now is to ensure all 39K Sprint sites are upgraded with NV equipment first.  Once a site is finished these crews should be moving to upgrading the rest of the sites still in that market that have not been touched with NV OR upgrading those sites that have just 3G only accepted to 4G.  There are still way too many red dots on the NV Complete maps that still need LTE 1900 upgraded which tells me that a lot of upgraded NV equipment sites still need backhaul and couldn't support 2.5 GHz LTE anyways.

 

At some point, Sprint needs to complete their 1900 MHz rollout 100% before trying to install new bands.  Critics of Sprint already claim that Sprint is all over the place and can't focus on a single task.  There are plenty of Sprint customers all over the US that have still not had a lick of LTE in sight so I would say that 2.5 GHz is not as high of a priority currently than LTE 1900 deployment.  The Clearwire 2.5 GHz LTE sites should be able to hold over many of the major markets in the mean time until Sprint can get to it.  The scope of the NV project is too big and keeps getting larger and larger as we add more puzzle pieces into the mix especially post Softbank.   I know we all have a tendency to want Sprint to do 10 things at once but that is just not reality.

[IamMrFamous07]

In a perfect world they probably could but the problem right now I would imagine is equipment and manpower. Unless Sprint has the same NV crews who do all parts of the NV equipment installation for 800/1900/2500 MHz (which currently doesn't happen...Sprint has different crews for all aspects of installation. Ex: cabinet installers, LTE integration crews, antenna panel/RRU installers, electrical power crews, backhaul crews,etc), I don't see this happening. Sprint's goal right now is to ensure all 39K Sprint sites are upgraded with NV equipment first. Once a site is finished these crews should be moving to upgrading the rest of the sites still in that market that have not been touched with NV OR upgrading those sites that have just 3G only accepted to 4G. There are still way too many red dots on the NV Complete maps that still need LTE 1900 upgraded which tells me that a lot of upgraded NV equipment sites still need backhaul and couldn't support 2.5 GHz LTE anyways.

 

At some point, Sprint needs to complete their 1900 MHz rollout 100% before trying to install new bands. Critics of Sprint already claim that Sprint is all over the place and can't focus on a single task. There are plenty of Sprint customers all over the US that have still not had a lick of LTE in sight so I would say that 2.5 GHz is not as high of a priority currently than LTE 1900 deployment. The Clearwire 2.5 GHz LTE sites should be able to hold over many of the major markets in the mean time until Sprint can get to it. The scope of the NV project is too big and keeps getting larger and larger as we add more puzzle pieces into the mix especially post Softbank. I know we all have a tendency to want Sprint to do 10 things at once but that is just not reality.

Yea you are right. I hope we get a more detailed plan about their network and marketing goals this year. Like I said before, for sprint to publicly say 2014 is their year and,not tmobiles,they must have something up their sleeves but of course they cant do anything until the network is decent enough for them to market their services.

 

I just hope the final result will be worth the wait.

[transitwatch889]

A light reading article interview with John Saw on the topic of what is 5G and sprints involvement. http://www.lightreading.com/mobile/5g/sprints-saw-5g-opp-is-moving-signal-closer-to-customers-/d/d-id/709571?_mc=RSS_LR_EDT

[JimBob]

A light reading article interview with John Saw on the topic of what is 5G and sprints involvement. http://www.lightreading.com/mobile/5g/sprints-saw-5g-opp-is-moving-signal-closer-to-customers-/d/d-id/709571?_mc=RSS_LR_EDT

I strongly await maps of these LTE picocells. 

[Fraydog]

http://www.qualcomm.com/media/videos/nascar-bringing-1000x-closer-reality

 

Pretty good video detailing Sprint's small cell trial at Phoenix International Raceway.

[shannonbrian]

June 2015 any small cells out there yet. Sprint so far behind on what they predicted in future . I guessoney talks first not ideas.

[Galaxyguy]

I found 2 in my area. (Shentel market)

 

Sent from my Note 4.

[chamb]

June 2015 any small cells out there yet. Sprint so far behind on what they predicted in future . I guessoney talks first not ideas.

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/842-network-visionlte-shentel-market-shenandoah-valleyhagerstownharrisburg/page-37

See post 725 in the above thread.  Photos of in-service site.

[shannonbrian]

May i need keep eye open in my market.

[lilotimz]

http://www.rcrwireless.com/20150709/network-infrastructure/sprint-small-cell-deployment-update-tag4

 

 

Sprint’s small cell rollout has been a hot topic all summer, and even though it has not been announced yet, recruiters and installers are getting ready to move fast. Sprint has confirmed nothing, but hopeful vendors are now expecting the carrier to deploy up to 70,000 outdoor picocells.

...

 

Mobilitie is expected to a primary partner for Sprint, charged with securing the sites and negotiating terms for deployment. Deployment of 70,000 outdoor small cells would require the acquisition of roughly the same number of discrete sites. Operators typically look for utility poles, lamp posts, church steeples and other structures that rise above most roof levels. Most sites will require zoning, permitting and negotiations with municipal authorities.

...

In addition to Mobilitie, Nokia and Airspan have been named as potential Sprint vendors for its small cell rollout. Airspan has developed outdoor small cells that are optimized for pole-mounted deployments and that leverage a virtualized radio access network. Nokia’s Flexi-Zone microcell/picocell base stations support the most common LTE bands and support integrated Wi-Fi.

..

 

Samsung B25 & B41, Ericsson RBS 64xx/65xx B25, Nokia Flexi Zone 2.5, ALcatel-Lucent MCO B25 & B41 + Airspan Airsynergy B41. 

 

Soon™

[clbowens]

http://www.rcrwireless.com/20150709/network-infrastructure/sprint-small-cell-deployment-update-tag4

 

 

Samsung B25 & B41, Ericsson RBS 64xx/65xx B25, Nokia Flexi Zone 2.5, ALcatel-Lucent MCO B25 & B41 + Airspan Airsynergy B41. 

 

Soon™

 

Soon *^TM  (soon means sometime in the next 50 years)

 

j/k