RedSpark

Tarek Robbiatti (Sprint's CFO) talked about the role of low band Spectrum for Sprint's Network on September 28th: Sprint's (S) Management Presents at Deutsche Bank's 24th Annual Leveraged Finance Conference (Transcript) Sounds like Sprint has really thought this through. I do find it interesting though that Sprint originally signed on to the T-Mobile petition for a 40 MHz Spectrum Reserve for the 600 MHz auction. I wonder what changed in the interim with that, because according to Tarek, they decided not to go ahead with bidding on it after all.

Yeah. The delayed WiMax shutdown definitely pushed things back a bit. Given the huge jump in iPhone 7 Preorders this year (Almost 500% as of September 20th, according to Marcelo), it'll be interesting to see how Sprint's device capability mix is affected. We should hear about this during the upcoming Earnings Conference Call on October 25, 2016. The most recent data we have for on-network devices is from the Fiscal 1Q2016 Earnings Conference Call: So if you factor in the 2.5 GHz Spectrum on 70% of POP's here, you get a better sense of how far along Sprint is and what the customer experience is. Still lots of upgrade room for Triband and Carrier Aggregation Capable devices. Given the huge number of iPhone 7 pre-orders, we'll see how much the needle is moved on Carrier Aggregation Capable devices. We'll also see more data at some point if/when Sprint breaks out Three Channel Carrier Aggregation Capable devices separately.

Sprint's Robiatti: 70% of our POPs now covered by 2.5 GHz Thoughts on this progress? Tarek Robiatti shared this information at a Conference.

Also saw this in The Washington Post: Sprint emergency generators ran out of fuel, cutting off 911 cell service Looks like a stuck/broken valve prevented additional fuel from getting to the backup generators.

Per the released Transcript from the recent Conference, here's what Marcelo had to say about Network Vision: So it sounds like Network Vision had to happen to lay the foundation for what we're seeing now. Sprint's network needed a major overhaul to replace legacy equipment and run sufficient backhaul to support LTE at the tower sites.

I think the point Marcelo was making, based on the full transcript of his remarks from the event, was that Sprint overpaid for what it got in return in the past. He's being smart on how Sprint spends its capital for network improvements, and ensuring that Sprint gets the most return on the investment it makes now. Also, this densification and optimization program has an entirely different cost structure as Tarek Robbiati (CFO) has said in the past. Marcelo commented on the network options available to Sprint, and its ability to select different site structures (and either wired or wireless backhaul because of its unique spectrum holdings) as a way to be cost efficient for each site in this program.

We'll see what Sprint has to say on October 25th: Sprint Corporation Schedules Fiscal 2016 Second Quarter Results Announcement

I agree with you. It's about time. I think the AMA that Günther did also helped get Sprint noticed by the press and taken seriously. RCR Wireless had a nice article about it as well.

It's a very reasonable inference to conclude Sprint was comparing its current iPhone pre-order sales to last year's iPhone pre-order sales.

Glad they're keeping pace with the competition on this.

Tidal is currently headed out to sea. I give it 6 months tops, before it closes shop or is acquired. I just don't see this company making any inroads against the likes of Apple Music, Pandora or Spotify.

This is very encouraging news: http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-pre-orders-of-iphone-7-and-iphone-7-plus-increase-nearly-four-times.htm Sounds like Sprint is firing on all cylinders. That Unlimited Freedom plan is a real draw, along with the promotions associated for new and existing customers.

Is this tied to standing up VoLTE? (For which he said: "VoLTE is on our roadmap and we'll make the move as soon as we can ensure that our customers have an even superior voice experience than today. It is tied to our densification and optimization strategy.") I was glad he readily acknowledged the GMO issue when asked about it: "We have a specific program to deal with ground mounts in our Densification and Optimization program."

$8 here we come! Remember this?: Sprint extends Claure's contract until 2019, will give him 10M shares if he gets stock to $8

Looks like Sprint matched T-Mobile's Promo for a Free iPhone 7 with device trade-in: Pre-order 9/9: FREE iPhone 7 Get iPhone 7 for FREE when you trade in iPhone 6 or iPhone 6s and choose any Sprint rate plan. Sprint has become a lot more responsive in doing competitive offers.

Full CTIA Q&A: Sprint COO Ottendorfer Boasts Momentum Really interesting conversation about Sprint's Network strategy for 3xCA and 5G, as well as its CapEx/spending plans going forward.

It wasn't a waste of your time. If there's nothing Sprint can do for you to address it in the foreseeable future, perhaps another carrier may better meet your needs. It's how it goes sometimes.

Ask Günther about that in the upcoming AMA. This is right in his wheelhouse per his bio. He'll either give you an answer to your satisfaction, or he won't.

Sprint has the ability to go to 4xCA and 5xCA (and perhaps beyond) on 20 MHz wide channels on its 2.5 GHz spectrum, which it claims to have more than 160 MHz of in the top 100 markets. As far as I know, no other carrier has the ability to do this. This doesn't count Sprint's plans to use even higher frequencies for its network as well. I think there's far more going on at Sprint than we're aware of.

Günther Ottendorfer (COO, Technology) is actually going to be doing an AMA in the Sprint Subreddit on Sept. 12th from 1:30PM-2:30PM CT. Ask him!

Sprint's 3xCA is supposed to launch by Early 2017... but it may happen sooner. We'll see when it actually happens.

You do realize 3xCA is live on more than 500 sites in Chicago and will be live on more than 100 sites in Kansas City by the end of September. Sprint is testing/doing initial deployments, along with these demos, to ensure reliability.

Throwing some shade at Sprint: We'll see who has the last laugh though.

It most certainly does: http://newsroom.sprint.com/blogs/sprint-perspectives/introducing-the-sprint-lte-plus-network--faster-stronger-more-reliable-than-ever-before.htm See the chart in this Blog Post.

Michael McMahon: President, Great Plains Region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) Twitter: https://twitter.com/mmcmahon09