S4GRU

Mostly AWS. And the PCS is pretty unstrategic. I say no. Robert

Adding Tmo to Sprint Network Vision sites is not difficult, really. Even WCDMA and GSM. It will involve one or two new panels per sector, the associated radios, and a combined GSM/WCDMA controller rack in the RBS. It would be nothing like Nextel. All the costs to do this work can be figured out and budgeted now and figured as a cost of the merger. The merging of the two networks, on the network side is not a big deal. It just need to have the appropriate money, timelines and management figured in advance. Sprint merging with even someone like Nextel now would not be a big deal. The big problems with the Nextel merger was capital available afterward, grossly incompatible customer business models, dissimilar site spacing requirements, and a lot of the technology and infrastructure needed to combine two networks did not yet exist. Sprinkle in some mismanagement and the tail wagging the dog (Nextel) and you had a recipe for disaster. There is nothing about Tmo that is like Nextel, except for some of its aging and going away technology is not the same as Sprint. Whoopdeedoo. This is not the biggest hurdle in a Sprint buyout of Tmo. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Remember, Sprint recently modified its contracts to say if WiMax is removed from your market early and you still have a WiMax device on contract, that Sprint will provide the customer a LTE device free of charge. Why would they change that term if they weren't planning to remove WiMax from some markets early? It is because some markets have to have their equipment replaced with new LTE only equipment. The oldest WiMax markets have to be fully replaced. And NSN and ALU markets will not have equipment that even runs WiMax. Robert via Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Sprint LTE in Idaho Falls is probably doing just fine with a Triband phone right about now. Robert

They can use alternative access vendors, especially microwave. There are other options. It can be done, but it may be more expensive. But paying for T1's to ILEC's is outrageous too. Robert

Sprint will not be able to deploy Band 26 over all the same number of B25 POP's because of the IBEZ. I'm not sure what the maximum number is, but it may not be a whole lot higher than 150M. 150M may be 75% of B26 deployed. Which wouldn't be too bad. However, I don't see why they can't have B26 complete at every B25 that is live, outside the IBEZ. Robert

I know it can be fun and loosely relevant to discuss politics. However, it just never goes well. We avoid political discussion like the plague. As polarized as politics are in America at the moment, the only one who loses is S4GRU. We want all wireless nerds to feel welcome, whether conservative, progressive, apolitical or uncommitted. Please refrain from political discussion unless it very specifically relates to the wireless industry. Thanks! Robert

Back to the premise of the OP, it seems that large markets is where 600MHz is short on supply and needed most. In large markets, the local stations are more likely to get enough ad revenue to make a go without rebroadcast fees. And less likely to give up their licenses. It's small markets that have the most to lose. Communities outside the Top 100, and even worse communities outside the Top 150. These places likely already have a good amount of 600MHz spectrum to put on the market. So putting them out of business just removes someone that provides a local benefit to the citizenry with no useful net effect for mobile subscribers. Small community TV stations that are barely making it, the loss of rebroadcast fees would be terminal. I could see how some smaller markets could lose coverage by some networks all together or lose their last and only stations. And these are in places with already plenty of 600MHz available. It scares me the thought of losing local broadcasters. Especially living in a small city myself. We could get down to just one local TV station, and it may just be owned by a large faceless corporation that cares nothing for the local community. Or even become monoplistic, which is scary when you consider news. I haven't made up my mind what I think about Aereo. I like the idea in general. And I also like the idea of 600 spectrum. But I also think there is a strong public interest in keeping local televisions stations alive and thriving. I don't know what the solutions are. Robert

That pretty much sums it up. Things are changing at Sprint now. Masa is shaking things up. I don't expect the next 12 months to be anything like the last 12 months. Robert

Also, we don't know to what extent has already been under way. Are they starting tomorrow? Or did they start last year? I have no idea. But I know I could do it starting tomorrow. It would not be conventional or uniform, and it would take a big pile of money and a lot of people. But I could do it. So I know Tmo can too. But are they up for the challenge? Or is this lip service? Robert

Am I the only one who thinks Tmo can upgrade backhaul to all its EDGE/GPRS sites in 2014? I don't think Tmo will care if it is fiber to each of these sites. They may even install bundled copper at many of them. A lot of rural and low capacity sites could do just fine with bundled copper or a long daisy chain of microwave. If a rural EDGE site started running 4-6Mbps of LTE per sector instead of 100kbps connected to T1's, that would be a major triumph. Sprint should consider something like that to their GMO's where fiber is going to be a long time coming. If Tmo rushes out something to all these EDGE sites and then just organically over time upgrade them to fiber also, that wouldn't be a bad deployment strategy. I would not be shocked if Tmo pulls this off. All it takes is money and proper management. I also would avoid CenturyLink and Windstream like the Plague. Robert

Sprint should have done something similar with Spark on B41 to help differentiate it from other bands. Maybe they will do it when they bring CA to B41? Robert

I know what they say publicly. And there was a time when that was more true. But I also talk with techs from all three vendors at times. In instances where you have a full build site converted to NV (3G accepted) and the LTE is not live, there only three issues that can cause that. First is backhaul, second is LTE carrier cards and third is that the site has not passed inspection. LTE 1900 carrier cards were a big problem keeping a steady stock of them back in 2012, and even some extent 2013. But this is not a problem any more with any of the three OEM's. The biggest obstacle for Sprint now in LTE deployment is backhaul, straight up. And that's why we say that a lot around here. I hear that LTE 800 carrier cards are somewhat of a problem now and part of the reason why there has been a rough start on getting things rolling. ALU is particularly late in getting production really going. But I hear that all of the OEM's have even picked up on that and shouldn't have any more supply problems and should meet their deliverables from here forward. The third item is quality. There are lots of quality control problems I am hearing with the installs. And with a small handful, but pervasive enough, there is problems that are preventing some sites from going live with LTE. LTE integration tech shows up to integrate the site, and the backhaul is not operating correctly. Throughput is too low or pings way too high. Or not working at all. Sometimes it is equipment installed incorrectly from Sprint and OEM subcontractors. LTE routers/controllers not working, etc. If the LTE integration tech can't take care of the problem himself while he's there, he calls it in that he cannot integrate it and moves on his merry way to the next site. Sometimes it takes weeks or months for them to diagnose the problem and get the responsible party back to fix it. And sometimes they need to wait for parts. But these are basically the reasons why sites sit there 3G upgraded and waiting on LTE. But backhaul is the major remaining obstacle in most of these instances. But Sprint can do some things about it. And I've discussed that in several threads in many instances. I don't need to go all into that again here. Robert

I think it can be done. Sprint could have done it too, and still can. It depends on how much you're willing to spend, how much man power you are willing to put on it, and how creative you can be with alternatives when things go awry. Robert

Folks...getting backhaul to rural areas is often easier. Fiber runs along most major highways close to sites. Getting fiber to highway and rural sites is typically easier than urban areas. And the ones that are more difficult can be bridged with microwave. If Tmo spends the money and effort, they could quite handily equip all their rural sites with upgraded backhaul before the end of 2014. Then it could spend 2015 upgrading them with their new LTE 700 spectrum, and at least AWS LTE (B4) in the places where they cannot yet do LTE 700 A Block (half the country). We will see how much they actually accomplish this year. I'm with AJ...don't overread too much into this and the Tmo spin machine. Sprint could be done with their LTE 1900 and LTE 800 network wide by the end of 2014 before Tmo really gets any wind at their back. However, Masa needs to make sure of it. Tmo cannot be allowed to get ahead on this one too starting so late. By the end of 2014, Sprint needs to do the following: Complete upgraded backhaul to every Sprint site Get LTE 1900 and LTE 800 complete Get B41 (LTE 2600/Spark) at all Clearwire sites Get B41 well covering non Clearwire Top 100 markets Get B41 deployed on every NV B25 site that is overcapacity (no matter which market) Get B25 2nd carrier installed everywhere where overcapacity and spectrum availability allows (including minor refarming if necessary) They should also consider: Add all iDEN sites that would add new coverage to include a full NV upgrade with CDMA/LTE Convert all WiMax Protection Sites that would add new coverage to include a full NV upgrade with CDMA/LTE Convert all Clearwire Expedience Sites that would add new coverage to include a full NV upgrade with CDMA/LTE Convert the few hundred WiMax sites in urban areas that would fill in/add coverage to include a full NV upgrade with CDMA/other bands of LTE If they need to bring in another 1,000 SoftBank employees from Japan to run this for Sprint, then so be it! Time to get on with the show. Masa cannot wait to compete with Tmo after the Feds refuse a buy out. They need to plan as if there is an all out battle for 3rd place. Because there is. Sprint will lose its 3rd place to Tmo if they don't focus on network. Network quality/coverage is now the differentiator between providers. The price difference between Tmo, Sprint and AT&T are now not very significant for most consumers. Robert

The new add is at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. What I don't know is if it is a DAS or rooftop site, though. It didn't say in the listing. Which usually means it's not a DAS. But sometimes they just forget to list it that way. Robert

Since this site is already 3G accepted, it must have been a GMO that is now getting a full build conversion. Thanks for the info. In the future, please place posts with Site ID's in them in the Sponsor section. Robert

Not true. There already is LTE 800 out there. Even some in parts of the Milwaukee market. We already have members using LTE data on 800. Where the person may be confused, is that Sprint is only deploying 1x CDMA and not EVDO on 800, as far as CDMA goes. So there will not be 3G data on 800, only 1x...which is largely used for voice. So it's sort of true to say there is no 800 3G data, only 800 3G voice. But that's not true of LTE data. As there will be LTE data on 800 everywhere except the international boundary areas. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

This is the best thing Tmo can do for itself to compete. Something I have been harping on them to do for years. This will take the last competitive thing Sprint has over Tmo, better rural data. At least to some extent. Tmo will not be able to deploy its LTE 700 but in half the country. Whereas Sprint can deploy LTE 800 everywhere but the borders. This gets Tmo in a little closer striking range. I encourage Sprint to raise the bar further though by a strategic network expansion, starting with unique iDEN and WiMax Protection Sites and aggressively installing SMR 800 nationwide. If Sprint can get its nationwide LTE 800 (B26) out nationwide before Tmo can even start deploying its select LTE 700, then Sprint will do just fine. It seems Sprint is finally starting to gather steam and Masa's influence is starting to be felt. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Another 30 Band 26 sites accepted in the Pittsburgh market. Details in the Premier Sponsor B26/LTE 800 thread. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Another 30 Band 26 sites accepted in the Kansas market. Details in the Premier Sponsor B26/LTE 800 thread. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

Another 50 Band 26 sites accepted in the Houston market. Details in the Premier Sponsor B26/LTE 800 thread. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

First Band 26 sites accepted in the Atlanta/Athens market. Details in the Premier Sponsor B26/LTE 800 thread. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

First Band 26 sites accepted in the East Iowa market. Details in the Premier Sponsor B26/LTE 800 thread. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

First Band 26 sites accepted in the Chicago market. Details in the Premier Sponsor B26/LTE 800 thread. Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro