Possible Sprint Int'l expansion (?)

[Nickel]

If SoftBank needs roaming and is tired of paying AT&T. 

 

Personally, I would advise them to just build in VoLTE capability on all sides and just go to that, but SoftBank's engineers from Japan could have a completely different appraisal of the situation. TD-LTE VoLTE isn't even that far away, it's going to be something China Mobile uses pretty much right away.  

 

If anything I think SoftBank's choices would be done to benefit the TD-LTE ecosystem. I wish they could get another US carrier like AT&T to bite. That would only help both parties IMO. 

If they want VoLTE then they'll have to add sites to match the coverage they have now, right?

[Fraydog]

If they want VoLTE then they'll have to add sites to match the coverage they have now, right?

Not necessarily.

 

800 MHz VoLTE will outrun current 1900 PCS CDMA coverage. It won't outdo 800 1X.

 

Then again, 800 1X users are currently an edge case of the Sprint subscriber base. I suspect that with implementation of COMP, that Sprint could get closer to CDMA 1X than a lot of people think.

[Nickel]

Not necessarily.

 

800 MHz VoLTE will outrun current 1900 PCS CDMA coverage. It won't outdo 800 1X.

 

Then again, 800 1X users are currently an edge case of the Sprint subscriber base. I suspect that with implementation of COMP, that Sprint could get closer to CDMA 1X than a lot of people think.

Interesting, I guess they might not have to then.

[Mobilesolutions]

The future here is voice over IP standards like VoLTE. Sprint and SoftBank can standardize on those... though, to be fair, if Sprint can accelerate VoLTE deployment, they can free up enough bandwidth that they could later add UMTS channels if they wished. 

 

It would send the CDMA network to hell but them's the breaks. If SoftBank wants to do it, then it's going to happen. The CDMA forever crowd will be sad, as will the lockdown hawks, but oh well. 

Oh but who could deploy a VoLTE network for Sprint 

-Will

[Fraydog]

Interesting, I guess they might not have to then.

Mind you, this will take a while to play out. CDMA 1X isn't going away yet. Maybe in 2015 there will be more of a shift.  I think Sprint should get out TD-LTE VoLTE capable handsets in 2014.  Rural areas don't need the capacity yet. 

[Fraydog]

Oh but who could deploy a VoLTE network for Sprint 

-Will

SoftBank? NSN? Ericsson? One of those three, I guess. 

[Mobilesolutions]

SoftBank? NSN? Ericsson? One of those three, I guess. 

 

Softbank+Eon could deploy VoLTE for Sprint.  As for NSN or Ericsson it could be either of the two, or neither. 

-Will

[Nickel]

Mind you, this will take a while to play out. CDMA 1X isn't going away yet. Maybe in 2015 there will be more of a shift.  I think Sprint should get out TD-LTE VoLTE capable handsets in 2014.  Rural areas don't need the capacity yet. 

Oh I'm well aware that this isn't something that's going to pop up overnight and will take awhile until it's ready, I'm just glad that Sprint won't have to spend tons of money just to make coverage the same as it was.

[ericdabbs]

Mind you, this will take a while to play out. CDMA 1X isn't going away yet. Maybe in 2015 there will be more of a shift. I think Sprint should get out TD-LTE VoLTE capable handsets in 2014. Rural areas don't need the capacity yet.

I don't think Sprint should use their LTE 2600 spectrum for VoLTE. Not sure how TD LTE plays well with voice and handoffs to FDD LTE. Sprint should have plenty of DVD spectrum to use for VoLTE.

 

Sent from my Motorola Photon 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[Fraydog]

I don't think Sprint should use their LTE 2600 spectrum for VoLTE. Not sure how TD LTE plays well with voice and handoffs to FDD LTE. Sprint should have plenty of DVD spectrum to use for VoLTE.

 

Sent from my Motorola Photon 4G using Tapatalk 2

 Testing is under way for that. I don't anticipate it being a big problem. 

 

http://www.ericsson.com/news/130627-ericsson-demonstrates-hd-voice-over-td-lte-with-commercial-sony-smartphone_244129228_c

[TheCUJuan]

Has anyone heard anything about Sprint introducing "something" to compete with T-Mobile's unlimited data abroad offering?

[WiWavelength]

Has anyone heard anything about Sprint introducing "something" to compete with T-Mobile's unlimited data abroad offering?

 

Sure.  You want cheap roaming on SoftBank in Japan?  Okay, that can be done.  And that is about it.

 

SoftBank does not own pieces of mobile networks in numerous countries like Deutsche Telekom does.

 

AJ

[TheCUJuan]

Sure.  You want cheap roaming on SoftBank in Japan?  Okay, that can be done.  And that is about it. SoftBank does not own pieces of mobile networks in numerous countries like Deutsche Telekom does. AJ

I just looked up japan roaming and it doesn't look very cheap either!

[jamesinclair]

I just looked up japan roaming and it doesn't look very cheap either!

 

I think Sprint should work on getting agreements in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

[IcJc]

I think Sprint should work on getting agreements in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

 

 

Has anyone heard anything about Sprint introducing "something" to compete with T-Mobile's unlimited data abroad offering?

 

 

Sure.  You want cheap roaming on SoftBank in Japan?  Okay, that can be done.  And that is about it.

 

SoftBank does not own pieces of mobile networks in numerous countries like Deutsche Telekom does.

 

AJ

http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/customize-your-framily-plan-with-the-all--new-15-international-connect.htm

 

I think this is what you might be looking for 

[Rawvega]

http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/customize-your-framily-plan-with-the-all--new-15-international-connect.htm

 

I think this is what you might be looking for 

 

Nope, not really. That only addresses calling and texting from your Sprint phone to other countries while still here in the US. That doesn't address roaming on your Sprint phone while in other countries.

[grapkoski]

Nope, not really. That only addresses calling and texting from your Sprint phone to other countries while still here in the US. That doesn't address roaming on your Sprint phone while in other countries.

 

Yes sir, you are correct. I miss the old international blackberry plan that would allow unlimited data. Granted - BlackBerry's weren't the data hogs like smartphones have evolved into.

 

Anyways, I was looking at Sprint's roaming rates for the Canary Islands (Spain) and it was a tad absurd. My account is technically a business account and they don't even have respectable options... $80 dollars for 85mbs of data is pretty steep. Even Verizon is more reasonable.

[xdfgf]

Hoping they announce some SoftBank love for US Sprint users before a possible trip to Japan next spring...

[Mercurial1]

Hoping they announce some SoftBank love for US Sprint users before a possible trip to Japan next spring...

I believe Sprint has a 5 dollar unlimited gsm roaming option for Japan. Call international care and ask.

 

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