Sprint Organic Network Expansion Discussion Thread

[lilotimz]

From here: http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-382-sprint-planning-large-network-expansion-adding-9000-new-lte-sites-nationwide/

• 1,100 - Decommissioned iDEN sites converted for new Sprint CDMA/LTE coverage and increased density in some key under served areas (Dualband and Triband)
• 1,600 – New coverage expansion sites targeting high roaming areas and key identified market expansion areas (Dualband and Triband)
• 800 – New Dualband sites in exurban and new suburban areas places with new or projected population growth
• 500 – New Triband sites in Urban and Suburban areas to infill coverage where 1900 and 2600 currently do not reach or reach well and 800 capacity would also be improved
• 5,000 – New Urban and Suburban TDD-LTE 2600 “Spark” only sites infilling existing coverages for better signal quality, indoor performance, and capacity. It is not known if these are all macro sites or a mix of macro and pico cells.

Project Ocean 

In additional to this new Expansion Project, Sprint also already has two existing projects under way for targeted regional expansion based on recent acquisition. In Missouri and Central Illinois, Sprint is working on Project Ocean, which involves adding more than 100 former U.S. Cellular sites.

...

Project Cedar

A thousand miles to the northwest, Sprint is embarking on Project Cedar in Montana. A plan to add 230 sites to the Sprint network in the Treasure State. Sprint purchased the defunct network assets from Chinook Wireless back in August of 2014. Chinook Wireless operated their service under the Cellular One name in Montana. Project Cedar takes the Chinook Wireless decommissioned sites and adds Network Vision DualBand and TriBand sites in their place.

... 

 

 

What are your thoughts? What do you expect? Is it just another daily topic to feed the sheeple? Are we leading the lambs to slaughter? Stay tuned next week for more ESS FOUURR GREWWWWW... errr.

 

Discuss people. 

[bcltoys]

The tower's in my area have not been touched,this will just make it that they still don't get touched way to go Sprint.

[S4GRU]

The tower's in my area have not been touched,this will just make it that they still don't get touched way to go Sprint.

 

Uhhh, no.  Network Vision still continues.  In fact, there are some internal conversations about a push to finish up LTE to remaining sites via microwave.  We also have seen some evidence of this in Grand Junction, Colorado where permitting recently started to microwave all the remaining sites in that area.

 

Sprint is being much more aggressive in completing existing work as well as adding more scope.  This is all good news, no matter where you live.  Also, i expect some iDEN sites to replace some sites in rural locations like yours, too.

[miguell2]

Uhhh, no.  Network Vision still continues.  In fact, there are some internal conversations about a push to finish up LTE to remaining sites via microwave.  We also have seen some evidence of this in Grand Junction, Colorado where permitting recently started to microwave all the remaining sites in that area.

 

Sprint is being much more aggressive in completing existing work as well as adding more scope.  This is all good news, no matter where you live.  Also, i expect some iDEN sites to replace some sites in rural locations like yours, too.

I have been hoping that they would do that, all this waiting around while equipment is ready to go has been really frustrating. Do you think they will just use microwave in the long term or just short term until the fiber is secured?

[S4GRU]

I have been hoping that they would do that, all this waiting around while equipment is ready to go has been really frustrating. Do you think they will just use microwave in the long term or just short term until the fiber is secured?

 

Many of the remaining locations can be served by microwave for a very long time.  Some of the higher capacity sites may still need fiber sooner than later.

[tongboy]

Did Sprint ever get faster at turning up MW backhaul then they were in the initial Chicago deployment? If they did the remaining sites and expansion should pick up pace.

 

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[anthony.spina97]

This is excellent! As we all know, many Sprint markets have outgrown their current sites and are much in need of some expansion. I can not wait to see the fruits of this project! Maybe they'll expand a little in Charlotte...

 

-Anthony

[Fraydog]

It's. About. Time.

 

 

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[bitslizer]

Down in springfield IL, back in Jan was first time I seen B25 LTE widely, this week I'm also seeing B41 (at least the part of Springfield along I-55)

[mmark27]

 

That said, I'm a realist and Madison probably isn't going to be a prime time spot for new build out despite all my calls and network reports.  

 

Now, when I visit family in St. Louis, it sounds like there is quite a bit of work being done there already for new sites from the USCC, which will be nice.  Last I was there (Nov), it's a bit rough around the edges for consistent coverage for LTE. 

[shannonbrian]

Lol, the Eastern shore will be last get backhaul u can tell noy big deal for that area . Eastern shore md and delaware very dead on upgrades .

[joshnys8913]

sounds like Sprint will get ahead of T-mobile with native coverage

[avb]

Nice. What time of time frame are we expecting for these projects? When will they start, and how long do we expect before the project is substantially completed?

[Yuhfhrh]

[bmoses]

while i'm definitely excited they are expanding and densifying their network i would be even more excited if they just got the GMO sites converted to full builds and got LTE live on them around here! while there are areas of the des moines metro that have outgrown the old network and could use a site here or there to help expand coverage, they would get much more bang for their buck expanding coverage, especially rural coverage, by just converting the GMO sites so they get 800 service.

 

hopefully the rumor about converting around half of the existing GMO sites is further along in planning and deployment and will get completed sooner

[S4GRU]

Nice. What time of time frame are we expecting for these projects? When will they start, and how long do we expect before the project is substantially completed?

 

Unknown.  It depends on when funding occurs, and at what rate it can be funded.

[S4GRU]

Knowing that an expansion is happening, I believe reporting trouble areas via the Sprint Zone app is useful and may actually be fruitful now.

[caspar347]

This is excellent! As we all know, many Sprint markets have outgrown their current sites and are much in need of some expansion. I can not wait to see the fruits of this project! Maybe they'll expand a little in Charlotte...

 

-Anthony

Speaking of this, why nothing about Clearwire? Here, Sprint towers + non-redundant Clear towers = site density matching the Deathstar (who has always had the highest density here since VZ ended up with both CLR licenses). Of course there are areas with no Clear presence (mostly brand-new suburbs and areas outside of Clear's original service area within I-485) that will probably benefit from this, in addition to areas that need more capacity. But a lot of our issues could be solved with some Clear sites.

[S4GRU]

Speaking of this, why nothing about Clearwire? Here, Sprint towers + non-redundant Clear towers = site density matching the Deathstar (who has always had the highest density here since VZ ended up with both CLR licenses). Of course there are areas with no Clear presence (mostly brand-new suburbs and areas outside of Clear's original service area within I-485) that will probably benefit from this, in addition to areas that need more capacity. But a lot of our issues could be solved with some Clear sites.

 

It's possible Clearwire only sites are a part of the program.  Or part of another covert project...Project Clearly Awesome.  But I did not in the article the absence of this specific aspect.  I just don't know what to think of it at this time.

[kyle_4thousand]

Does Project Ocean include Chicago or any of its suburbs? As far as I know we had a USCC conversion in Hampshire. And I can look out my window and see a former USCC site one that would be a fantastic conversion!

 

 

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[S4GRU]

Does Project Ocean include Chicago or any of its suburbs? As far as I know we had a USCC conversion in Hampshire. And I can look out my window and see a former USCC site one that would be a fantastic conversion!

 

 

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Yes.  There are a few USCC sites in the Chicago area part of Project Ocean.  We do not know the scope, but we expect at least a dozen.  But could be larger.

[SeanK_]

Wonder if Albuquerque will get any love of this.

[S4GRU]

Wonder if Albuquerque will get any love of this.

 

The source said that the project is nationwide and will likely impact every state.  So I would say yes, most likely.  But to the extent in ABQ?  I don't know.  I would expect B26 will provide complete ABQ coverage.  Some additional West Mesa and Rio Rancho sites could be helpful.  And B41 infill sites as needed for capacity.

[dnwk]

Does it mean Sprint plan to spend money on new towers rather than 600Mhz?

[S4GRU]

Does it mean Sprint plan to spend money on new towers rather than 600Mhz?

 

No.  Completely unrelated.  600MHz will still be useful regardless of Sprint adding these 9,000 sites or not.  600MHz will be very useful to many of these sites, especially if Sprint could get a nationwide 10x10 license in 600MHz.  But 600 is far enough out now it would be foolish to wait and do nothing until after the auction and device/network ecosystem is ready for it.