Sprint confirms LTE to launch in only PCS 1900 MHz in 2012

[WiWavelength]

Migrated from Original Forum. Originally Posted 10 January 2012

 

In an interview with Phonescoop.com, Sprint spokesperson David Owen confirms that Sprint will launch LTE this year in only its PCS 1900 MHz spectrum. So, do not expect anything beyond CDMA1X Advanced and/or EV-DO Rev B in SMR 800 MHz spectrum until at least 2013. The interview also seems to suggest that initial Sprint LTE devices will be LTE 1900 only, though that point is somewhat vague. But future support for LTE 800 and/or TD-LTE 2500-2600 in the first go round of Sprint LTE devices may be doubtful.

 

http://www.phonescoo...icle.php?a=9639

AJ

[legion125]

Migrated from Original Forum. Originally Posted 10 January 2012

 

Sprint had mentioned this before. The real issue to me is what chip sets will be in the GN and Viper and others released this year. These will be the first Sprint LTE phones, and it would make sense for Sprint to future proof these handsets with as you mentioned, at least with 800 and and TD-LTE flavor.

[WiWavelength]

Migrated from Original Forum. Originally Posted 10 January 2012

 

I am uncertain how much market "pre-seeding" we will see with LTE devices.

 

Keep in mind that current VZW LTE devices support only LTE band class 13 (Upper 700 MHz C block 22 MHz). So, if the VZW-SpectrumCo-Cox AWS 2100+1700 MHz spectrum transactions gain approval, even VZW will require a whole new set of LTE band class 4 capable devices.

 

Also, Sprint did "pre-seed" the market with CDMA band class 14 (PCS "G" block 10 MHz) devices. Of course, CDMA band class 14 now will never see the light of day in the US, as Sprint has decided to use that spectrum for LTE instead. Hence, all of that "pre-seeding" proved pointless.

 

AJ

[S4GRU]

Migrated from Original Forum. Originally Posted 10 January 2012

 

I hope frequency clarification is one of the things that comes out in tonight's Sprint event at CES

[WiWavelength]

Migrated from Original Forum. Originally Posted 10 January 2012

 

I suspect that we will know for certain the supported LTE band class(es) only when Sprint's first two Samsung and LG LTE handsets hit the FCC OET authorization database. Hopefully, those authorizations will come through in the next several weeks.

 

AJ