nexgencpu

V30+ just got its VoLTE update!! Nice to see the list finally growing! 

?

8 minutes ago, bucdenny said:

So they will start installing April?

Now that's totally doable considering it's approved. We now expect Nokia and Samsung equipment to pass FCC any day now.

BIG BIG PROPS TO JOHN SAW!! 

He just sent me this over twitter!

https://fccid.io/TA8AKRD901075

MASSIVE MIMO FCC APPROVAL!

34 minutes ago, JWMaloney said:

I don't see anything in the actual permits to hint at higher-order MIMO for 800 MHz. I do see mention of (and support for) a second 800 LTE carrier. Taking occupied bandwidth into consideration, Sprint should have enough spectrum in most markets to do two 3x3 LTE carriers + 1 CDMA carrier in 800 MHz (as opposed to one 5x5 LTE + 1 CDMA carrier). That makes a lot more sense to me than trying to get 4x4 MIMO into tablets.

Narrowing it to 3mhz will most likely have a negative impact on signal degregation. Having higher order MIMO will help more effectively doubling capacity rather than increase theoretical peak by a small margin.

11 minutes ago, dkyeager said:

 

In the first article, from RCRwireless, it only mentions that the first Massive MIMO deployments will begin in April.  Sprint has 26 days left.  One site in each of the first three cities would meet their criteria.  Assuming FCC approval, which typically means going through a private testing lab to meet established criteria, they should be able to make this target. 

To meet our expectations is a totally different matter.  5G can not come soon enough.  In reality it will occur one step at a time.  At least we know Sprint has raised the money for these projects and Next-Gen work has begun in many places.

Sprint has been pushing Massive MIMO for well over a year. My main concern is FCC approval, considering that Verizon got their Massive MIMO equipment approved a long time ago.

It's kinda surprising that Massive MIMO equipment (from any vendor) still hasn't passed FCC considering Sprint's push for April launch of some markets.

Having Ajit Pai at the helm of the FCC just makes me uneasy with them approving anything that gives Verizon competitors any sort of leg up or big advantages.

Considering these new antennas are dual band 2.5/800, would it be safe to assume this is targeted at markets that lack 2.5? and also can see greater benefits out of 800mhz 4x4MIMO, leaving big cities like NYC out of the SMR 4x4MIMO picture.

Holy shiznit! 

My next phone... Do we get Calling Plus is the big question.

I doubt we will see it from the get-go but hopefully not too long after its release.

My Note 8 ownership will be short lived....

Nice to see Sprint (specifically Guenther) give Tim and S4GRU props!

 

https://twitter.com/guengott68/status/887380940208656385

 

For now.  It will become voice too when VoLTE goes live.  

True, and as you have mentioned before, this might be the device that accelerates its (VoLTE) deployment.

Great article.  Any idea how Voice is handled?  Does the Magic Box provide 1x Voice via 800, 1900 or does voice have to fall back to the tower?

It's Data only.

I got my taste of the third carrier in Hayward, CA today. Not bad but the speeds are not much improved yet. I hope Sprint gets backhaul upgraded soon.

Sprint is not doing new carriers without upgraded backhaul. Either your signal was not good, or they are tuning the site.

Not capable. Tops out at 2xCA.

 

Only eNB equipment that can do 3xCA right now is the 8T8R equipment.

 

I know it cannot do 3xCA what I meant was only broadcast that third carrier for capacity and still do 2xCA.

Anyone have any idea if Clear Samsung equipmemt can broadcast the 3rd carrier while at the same time still do CA 2x?

I heard multiple times mention about Sprint looking to switch to a more standard VoWifi supporting handing off from Wifi to Cellular. That would be a nice addition.

Nice gateway toward VoLTE and hopefully this will support it.

A few thoughts on the matter...

 

We do know that the hardware in the "US" variant will be centralized across all domestic operators.  S4GRU staff even has discovered more recently in the FCC OET a "KOR" variant -- ostensibly intended for South Korean operators.  Samsung seems to be standardizing its handset hardware platforms across all operators within certain countries/regions.

 

What we do not know is how Samsung will handle separate firmware per operator.  Though I doubt it, the customized firmware could be temporary and tied to the SIM card in use.  Pop in an AT&T SIM, that activates the "A" firmware.  Pop in a Sprint SIM, that activates the "P" firmware.

 

More likely, barring hacker intervention, the firmware locks could be permanent.  A Sprint "P" variant, for example, always may be set up for Sprint, thus not particularly usable on VZW.  From a sales volume standpoint, Samsung benefits more if those who are switching providers have to obtain new handsets.

 

AJ

I'm almost certain swapping sims freely between carriers would be a no go. But, my thought is that they(and only them)would have the lock and key to be able to sell you a device that came from one carrier and sell it to you for another, as a second hand device.

 

That could potentially open up a whole new business model moving forward for them.

One net effect of having one universal device would be the resale value going forward. Having a universal device that is able to move around different carriers adds a significant value to a second hand device.

 

This could have been influenced by the advent of the leasing model. Second hand devices would no longer be technically limited to one carrier.

In the age of no carrier contracts, all operators need to be open to devices from newly arriving customers.

This definitely is a huge step in that direction. Only limitation would be logistical, hardware would no longer be an excuse.

Samsung should sell an unlocked version that works on all carriers much like the Nexus phones and Moto X Pure Edition.

Verizon is already obligated to sell unlocked phones, so in theory, since its only one variant for the US Verizon's version would work on any carrier.

I think Sprint has many more options with this than are detailed here. In many markets Sprint will have more than 3 B41 carriers.  Another possibility is to use some of these additional carriers to supply signal to these small cells in some quasi-dedicated fashion.  Perhaps using another PLMN and/or another mode (data centric etc).  Then it just becomes an issue of backhaul at the donor site and any added delay.

WOW, that was exactly my thought process. Why dig into used frequency for backhaul when you have plenty to dedicate for it.

How has it been debunked? (I'm asking because I don't know)

John Saw made it very clear, there would be no disruption in service. This would cause an insane amount of disruption.