Optimizing America’s Newest Network: A Word from John Saw, Sprint Chief Network Officer

[WiWavelength]

The tilt from one of the tower by my house needs to change.  The tower is a little less than half a mile from my house but I don't connect to that tower for LTE; instead, I connect to a tower that is a little over a mile away for LTE.  Because of this, my LTE connection is spotty around my house.  

B26 would probably alleviate the issue.

 

Not everyone will like to hear this, but some in building locations well within the Sprint LTE coverage footprint simply will not get reliable LTE, maybe not ever.  Even band 26 will not be a panacea.

 

Now, that is less of a problem for VZW, while it sticks with SVLTE capable handsets, and AT&T, where it has W-CDMA 850 for fallback.  But it is something of a problem for Sprint, as it shifts to all single radio e/CSFB devices.  Unreliable LTE in building, thus, can mean missed e/CSFB pages for incoming calls.  And Airave type femtocells do not always work well with single radio devices.

 

This is one of the reasons why we have witnessed Sprint start to push Wi-Fi calling capability in the latest round of tri band handsets.  And it is the right move.  We have to realize that, more so than ever, mobile networks are for the truly mobile.  In building service will oft require small cells, and we are going to have to provide many of those small cells in the form of Wi-Fi.

 

AJ

[deep]

Not everyone will like to hear this, but some in building locations well within the Sprint LTE coverage footprint simply will not get reliable LTE, maybe not ever.  Even band 26 will not be a panacea.

 

Now, that is less of a problem for VZW, while it sticks with SVLTE capable handsets, and AT&T, where it has W-CDMA 850 for fallback.  But it is something of a problem for Sprint, as it shifts to all single radio e/CSFB devices.  Unreliable LTE in building, thus, can mean missed e/CSFB pages for incoming calls.  And Airave type femtocells do not always work well with single radio devices.

 

This is one of the reasons why we have witnessed Sprint start to push Wi-Fi calling capability in the latest round of tri band handsets.  And it is the right move.  We have to realize that, more so than ever, mobile networks are for the truly mobile.  In building service will oft require small cells, and we are going to have to provide many of those small cells in the form of Wi-Fi.

 

AJ

 

I was actually hoping either the tilt change or Band 26 would help with in-building coverage at my house.  ;(

[Nickel]

I was actually hoping either the tilt change or Band 26 would help with in-building coverage at my house.  ;(

Why? do you not have Wi-Fi?

[greenbastard]

I was actually hoping either the tilt change or Band 26 would help with in-building coverage at my house. ;(

It still could if you're receiving spotty B25 LTE inside your house.

[benji827]

In house coverage of band 41 is awesome,South Jersey market Camden NJ.

 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-GuboT6JDLpQnFtQ3htY2luWG8/edit?usp=docslist_api

[Deval]

I love having B41 coverage in my apartment. Has held me over really well while TWC dragged their feet about getting Internet into my unit.

[greenbastard]

In house coverage of band 41 is awesome,South Jersey market Camden NJ.

 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-GuboT6JDLpQnFtQ3htY2luWG8/edit?usp=docslist_api

Are you really close to a tower? I don't think I've ever seen RSRP that good for Band 41 on my phone.

[benji827]

I am between 3 towers less than a mile apart, I had good coverage with my old evo also.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-GuboT6JDLpdnVpVHI2d01UMGc/edit?usp=docslist_api

[Paynefanbro]

Are you really close to a tower? I don't think I've ever seen RSRP that good for Band 41 on my phone.

Strongest signal I've received on Band 41 always -75dbm or so.