Epic4G25

Good to know it's still around, thanks for the info.

Yup, that was the first time. Been happening steadily ever since.

Sprint works fine in my local area, but I like having a company that when I need to travel I will be covered. If it wasn't for the fact that Sprint is the only network that fits my needs plan wise I would have left long ago. While I'm here I have a random question, I'm not sure anyone will really have an answer, but I know through NV network backhaul is being upgraded to fiber. My question is what ever happened to the old Sprint coast to coast fiber optic from the LD days? Was it sold off along with the hardwire services to become part of Embarq? Deval - I guess I should have clarified, I don't care if its technically "building out" or simply merging and acquiring new towers, licenses, spectrum, etc from the bought network. Did you actually read the thread? Or just quote the first thing you disagreed with? Yes, I do know Sprint built their network from the ground up "The first all digital, all PCS, nation wide network built from the ground up and reaching over 230 Million people." Trench Coat guy ads always were my favorite. I know their history, because it's been for the most part a history of innovation, it's however been lacking in recent years. Hopefully NV will change that.

They need to find someway to expand someday, roaming as a backup can't go on forever. If thats what a network is reduced to, its not of much use. Even more so in a day of ever growing data use and data speed demands, while Sprint roaming has a 300MB limit as per T&C.

No, not many misconceptions. I am very well aware AT&T and VZW have extended their networks through mergers and buyouts, however there aren't that many companies left that Sprint could acquire in the same manner. Also it isn't just "rural" that needs to be built out, it's the native Sprint network as a whole, the network foot print is inherently small compared even to the likes of a carrier such as T-Mobile. This becomes even more evident when looking at something like the Sprint 1900MHZ only coverage map they themselves provide. All that's ever been said about any kind of build out for Sprint is that it wouldn't be cost effective, yet that's left us in a position of dwindling coverage as shown by the link Fraydog provided. I simply want a carrier that could possibly one day come close to a native coverage footprint near that of AT&T and VZW. Rawvega - I'm not "chastising" Sprint for using roaming agreements, as they've been a great help to me in more rural areas around me. My problem is that Sprint relies too heavily on them, whereas VZW's coverage can stand mostly on its own without roaming backup. I really don't understand why people can't just admit to Sprint having an incredibly small native footprint that should be expanded to compete with AT&T and VZW while also lessening dependence on roaming contracts. I understand the costs would be high, but with a parent company like SoftBank coming into the picture, now after NV is completed would be the time. Call me unrealistic, but we simply don't have the native network coverage to adequately compete with AT&T and VZW at this time. More native coverage is never a bad thing. IMO

I'm not going to worry about it further, as nothing evident is even coming up and I'd like to continue to support Sprint. So I'll just wait and hope that the SoftBank deal will allow Sprint to build out their own network for once, instead of just renting towers and using roaming agreements.

Can't be much more specific than that, all I can say is there has been a drastic reduction in the areas covered natively out west. The coverage used to be more than just the "Typical PCS coverage." I was simply wondering if there were any major roaming deals that ended causing this. Since there doesn't seem to be that much info on it I guess not.

Quite a lot, I've always wanted to move to the west coast so I periodically check out there. Basically everything has gone from "Native" coverage to "Off Network Roaming" other than around the highways and larger towns.

Thanks for providing a logical standpoint.

I have no problem with roaming agreements, but roaming agreements make up most all of the coverage Sprint claims to have outside of larger towns and highways... The native coverage size difference between the likes of AT&T and VZW are giant.

They certainly can't, which is why I'm hoping SoftBank will be much more helpful with Sprint than a company like GM was with Saab.