S4GRU

We know that Sprint also conducted their B26 FIT in Montana. So there may be additional sites already ready in Montana that will add to this new pickup. Or, part of me wonders, if Sprint already had this worked out long in advance and Cellular One hosted the FIT. Interesting stuff. I wish we had folks in Montana that could have been monitoring sites and found the B26 FIT. Maybe we can pick up some Montanans now? Robert

Given Sprint's LTE maps knack for over statement of coverage, it will look more like this on Sprint maps: Robert

They are discussing about what it would take to possibly go to 40x40. Which would perform the same as two 20x20 with carrier aggregation. Getting 40MHz of contiguous spectrum is all but impossible except for an off market here or there. For the most part, carriers larger than 20MHz are not really practically because of the contiguous spectrum requirements just flat out prohibit it. Robert

They will most likely include at least WCDMA service in areas where they have the spectrum. And possibly EDGE. Robert

Sprint cannot service their current customers really, anyway. Why pay money for them? AT&T didn't buy their customers either. AT&T is just giving them offers to attract them, like a $100 credit and waiving fees. AT&T really just bought the spectrum. Which Sprint doesn't even need. And AT&T doesn't need the towers and networks. This is a good deal for Sprint. Sprint shouldn't sell service in Montana until the sites are upgraded to NV and LTE is on B25/26 together and optimized. Robert

Bonanza Scene I built a house on that meadow in 2003. It's called Bourne Meadow. It's on Lake Tahoe, at Zephyr Cove, Nevada. Here is a link to that house: http://www.qdconstruction.com/projects/newest-projects/sierra-sunset-residence.html Robert

I think this has had little to no impact on the network deployment, whatsoever. Robert

It does look like a 5x5 chunk of PCS-B Block in all the critical parts of Montana are leased to AT&T from Sprint. Until June 2015. That only leaves Sprint a 10x10 in the interim. And strangely, that 5x5 lease is right in the middle of the block, leaving only 5MHz on each side. However, my guess is that Sprint wouldn't fire up new NV sites in Montana until next summer anyway. So probably no loss. And if they only started out with one B25 and one B26 LTE carrier, and one 1x/EVDO carrier in PCS and one 1x carrier in SMR, then the lease doesn't impede anything. And they could fire them up as they complete, even before the lease expiration. Robert

Yep, that license is free and clear for Sprint right now. Sweeps on the spectrum analyzer confirm they are clear. C'mon in Masa! Robert

No need to sell service initially. But might as well reduce your roaming costs to help pay for this. Just supporting roaming Sprint subscribers travelling through the area, the existing network should perform just fine. I'm not sure Sprint will ever put up brick and mortar stores in the area. Robert

Yeah, they have 15x15 PCS locally. Also, they have 7x7 SMR. And B41 EBS too, but no BRS. Robert

Looks like it's the network too. Probably can fire up the existing network right away for Sprint customers and will just need to schedule the Network Vision conversions thereafter. Robert

If they are going in this big in Montana...much bigger than just the build out requirements would necessitate...then can I start to get hopeful about Western South Dakota? They don't have any CCA/RRPP members here. And they do also have G Block Build Out Requirements here, and EBS Protection Sites. C'mon, baby! No Whammies! No Whammies! STOP!!! Seriously though, this stokes my fire. This is much bigger than I ever thought Sprint would do in Montana. I was expecting just a site or two each in Billings, Great Falls, Missoula and Kalispell. The old Sprint never would have done this. Robert

Although we can't don't this, it would be interesting to see the contrast of where Sprint would be now in deployment if SoftBank had not bought them. After pondering that, just consider Clearwire as its own entity right now. Let that sink in awhile... Thank you Masa. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

It's one of those things that must be done in a shared wireless environment. Heck, some home broadband connections can't even handle that. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

I expect that Masa will start pulling 3G capex when LTE coverage becomes ubiquitous. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Yes. He is hunting down a few leads, writing letters to some companies. Working hard at being a thorough journalist. Hopefully he will be able to report his findings to us conclusively. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

It's not that easy. Sprint has a lot of the backhaul blame too. They tried to do 'just in time' backhaul ordering. If they had ordered all of their backhaul at the beginning of NV, this would not be as big of a problem. But when Sprint started NV, they worked with backhaul vendors on plans that would minimize their upfront backhaul cash burn. They released backhaul in stages, by area and vendor. This would have allowed Sprint to spread out its huge backhaul costs. If the backhaul companies would have been able to deliver backhaul perfectly to Sprint's schedule, it could have worked pretty well. But it wasn't properly managed by Sprint, and some backhaul vendors appear to be grossly inept. Bad combo. In hindsight, it appears stupid to start a company like CenturyLink toward the end of the project. And it probably was. Because many of these later companies are not meeting their dates. Whereas if all backhaul was released before NV started or at least as NV was starting, then we would just be dealing with a few problematic sites that could likely be bridged with microwave. Even as there are several prominent backhaul providers flailing, Sprint carries a lot of the responsibility. And based on the info coming out of Overland Park these days, it is now being properly managed. It will get done as fast as possible, given the bad position they are in now. Onward and upward! Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

It does. I installed their latest extensions last week and we've had more problems. *sigh* Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

VZW 3G has gotten so bad. It is unusable in many areas anymore. It appears VZW has completely stopped capex on 3G now. If you mention it to any VZW employee they try to hard sell you on a LTE device. When you explain you have one, they look at you like you're from Mars. "Why would you use 3G?" They always ask. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

I now feel like I need to take a shower after reading that. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

I think he's saying that now more sites need to receive their upgraded backhaul. At least that's how I read it. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

It hurtzes my head to read that. Robert

It can be added to the S4GRU Scholarship Fund, if you like. That is where we fund sponsor status and upgrades to worthy individual out of. Robert

In some of the most important areas of all. San Francisco (the whole Bay Area), Los Angeles, Sacramento, Denver, Austin, Orlando, Atlanta, Kansas City, Cincinnati, New York City and Boston are all no go for Tmo on 700MHz because of current Channel 51 interference. About the only major metros Tmo can do 700-A in is Detroit, Minneapolis, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Philadelphia, DC and Miami. Possibly Tampa, that one's close. Tmo has to do the best that they can do for itself. And I would do exactly the same thing in their shoes. But it's not all roses, either. Some major stinkers in the whole deal. Robert