I've hit up their Facebook page a few times. They never comment. Thanks for the information Userkv8031, Rawvega, and WiWavelength. I'm contemplating writing editorials for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Sioux City Journal, Watertown Public Opinion, and the Brookings Register (home of Swiftel). I don't want to come across as a whining customer, an ignorant consumer, or someone with a score to settle. I just want better service. Service that other Sprint customers in populated areas receive. Even thought we have 3G antennas, would I be correct in saying that the back haul equipment needs to be updated to handle the additional load from increased data usage and more customers with smart phones? Would this be a correct statement? Swiftel installed 3G antennas a few years ago. But, if they haven't upgraded the components that handle the signals from the tower to the switching center (the back haul) all additional users and use only slow down the network.
This area does not have a lot of population (Sioux Falls MSA 228,000, Sioux City MSA, 169,000, Watertown 33,000, Brookings 32,000) but there is a fair amount of interstate traffic. In 2012, I-29 south of Sioux Falls averaged 19,908 vehicles per day (estimate 7 million + per year), and I-90 East of Sioux Falls averaged 12,898 vehicles per day (estimate 4.5 million + per year).