RedSpark

Even though VZW is markedly lower than Tmo, AT&T and Sprint, they all were way above acceptable.

 

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Levi's is an outdoor stadium, which had a substantially upgraded DAS, while NRG Stadium in Houston has earned the nickname "No Reception, Guaranteed", even though it has a retractable roof. There's clearly no macro network to fall back on if the DAS isn't up to snuff.

Based on those articles, it seems like a lot of work needs to go into that DAS for next February's game.

Was it worth it?

Verizon link doesn't work. You need to take the parenthesis off the end of the URL.

Thanks. Fixed. Fat fingers!

If Sprint is going to rely on the Sprint Zone app for reports of performance issues, they need to make the app available for all Sprint compatible devices, including unlocked BYOD phones, like Nexus phones and Moto X Pure.

Absolutely.

Hopefully Sprint plans to do the same.

Come on Sprint! Let's see it.

Frankly I think Sprint should have at least one person per area (More in bigger markets) that their primary job is to drive around and test network performance and recommend improvements.

 

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See this /r/Sprint AMA with a Direct 2 You Supervisor. This issue actually came up, and he responded that the reps actually do network tests at each customer site, and also carry WiFi Connect Routers in the vehicles if needed. As was discussed in the thread, it would seem to make a lot of sense to have the cars themselves outfitted with network monitoring gear for continuous gathering, as the cars drive from appointment to appointment.

FWIW, Sprint does a lot of automated network quality monitoring, even if you don't specifically report the issue in Sprint Zone. This is accomplished on the network as a whole, and can be targeted to specific areas through datasets created by certain device apps and other monitoring tools.

See this Bloomberg article:

Shortly after arriving, Claure began daily meetings about Sprint’s worst-performing cell sites—what the network team called the Top 10 S--- List. With about 20 executives around a table or dialing in, Claure brought up each site responsible for large numbers of dropped calls and asked how it would be fixed within 24 hours.

 

If a site was still on the list the next day, Claure would ask again: Should an antenna be tilted up or down or sideways, so it points toward more customers? Does Sprint need to add antennas, or use antennas with more bandwidth? “It was painful,” says John Saw, Sprint’s chief technology officer. “But it was good for getting the network fixed.”

 

Sprint knows where the problem areas are. They just have to fix them/upgrade them one at a time, and not all of the delays are due to Sprint. Some are due to backhaul delays, etc.. Sprint has ~48,000 sites. It takes time... but it's getting done, and the Nielsen results show that.

For Super Bowl 51, John Stevens is the new Sprint President in charge of the Central Texas Region. Jamie Jones is the President of the Sprint South Area.

For Super Bowl 52, Michael McMahon is the new Sprint President in charge of the Great Plains Region (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa):

Kevin Crull is the President of the Sprint Central Area.

See Map: http://bizwire.tekgroup.com/media/86/ONE_Sprint_Map_11316_Highres_20160114120501346.jpg

Here's what T-Mobile's Neville Ray had to say about T-Mobile's performance at the Super Bowl.

See the chart: Sprint virtually tied for 2nd place with AT&T! Great job Sprint!

The NFL doesn't mess around when it comes to its "Host City Bid Specifications and Requirements".

See this article which references a leaked document for Super Bowl LII. Page 26 lays out the NFL's requirements for WiFi/Cellular Connectivity.

Minnesota won the bid for the 2018 Super Bowl and it will be held in U.S. Bank Stadium. (That's a beautiful stadium by the way.)

The prep is also well underway for Super Bowl LII.

The people who use ATT & Vzw at the Superb Owl most likely don't care one bit about overages. 

If the food/drink prices at the game were any measure of that, you're absolutely right.

another speed test outside the stadium

 

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Anyone else notice a Magenta Shirt in the reflection? Coincidence?

Video (Snip)

Nice... I'm partial to:

Started from the bottom now we're here

Started from the bottom now my whole team XXXXX here

Super Bowl 51 will be held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas:

Here's where things stood in September 2014: http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2014/09/why-cell-service-nrg-stadium-abysmal/

Here's where things stood in November 2014: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/It-s-a-hangup-Cellphone-use-at-NRG-is-haphazard-5924813.php

It's been a constant of Texans football, from the team's quest for a Super Bowl berth to fans burdened by NRG Stadium's underpowered, overloaded cellular antenna system, which in its current state is described as "the worst of the pack" by NFL officials.

Fans certainly have noticed the issue, and so has the NFL. Michelle McKenna-Doyle, the NFL's chief information officer, says in its current configuration, NRG Stadium is a "black hole" for use of mobile devices and a significant concern as the 2017 Super Bowl approaches.

"When they changed the stadium name from Reliant to NRG, what they failed to mention is that NRG stands for 'No Reception, Guaranteed," said season ticket holder and AT&T subscriber Lucas Davis.

Officials with Sprint, which manages the DAS now used by all carriers, say that that system also is scheduled for upgrades.

"We all realize we can do better, and that's what we're trying to do," said Mark Miller, who oversees the county-owned NRG Park complex. "We have Sprint working on an upgrade and Verizon working on a new system, and we are trying to get it as best as we possibly can."

The new DAS will be available for other carriers should they choose to participate.

Sprint spokesperson Jennifer Schuler said the company is "working to identify and determine the necessary upgrades" for the system it manages.

Here's where things stood in July 2015: http://www.mobilesportsreport.com/2015/07/wi-fi-deal-at-houstons-nrg-stadium-looks-like-its-going-to-5-bars-is-ruckus-involved-as-well/

Optical Telecom appears to be one of the companies working on a DAS exclusively for Verizon Customers: http://optelsol.com/nrg_park_project.html

So as it stands, NRG Stadium will have one DAS upgraded by Sprint (intended to be neutral host)... and another DAS which will be exclusively for Verizon customers.

Sprint needs to get this right before next February: http://www.rootmetrics.com/us/rsr/nrg-stadium/2015/2H

2xCA on the DAS is a must have I'd imagine... Though perhaps we could see 3xCA with enough lead time? Would that make a difference for Sprint in this kind of venue?

Would rather see them pump that money into the network than a 30 second ad.

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Exactly. Talk less, do more.

Levi's Stadium is the first NFL facility that has a state of art wifi network anyways. 70 Miles of cabling which are for WIFI only.

Doesn't matter how good the WiFi network is if people aren't using it. Many people don't bother with WiFi, despite heavy promotion and info.

Good to see that Sprint is holding up

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Hopefully those are iPhone 6s devices.

I'd expect Verizon to be the best at the super bowl as they're an official sponsor of the NFL...

Sponsorship doesn't mean good performance. Sprint was a NASCAR sponsor for 10 years (at a cost of over $700 million: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/sprint-to-end-nascar-sponsorship-after-2016-185242841.html) and NBA for 4 years (at a cost of $222 Million: http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2015/07/13/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Sprint.aspx?). I don't recall anyone saying how well Sprint performed at any of those venues.

Jeezus... Are Sprint's COWs and 2xCA not making for any real improvements?

There's also this: https://twitter.com/kkwestisbest/status/696464592247980032

(By Kevin Kunkel: Sprint President (West))

FWIW, Legere posted this comparison with Verizon earlier: https://www.facebook.com/JohnJLegere/photos/a.1444501559188725.1073741828.1444207845884763/1507106902928190/?type=3&theater

Sink to the bottom with T-Mobile...

 

AJ

Serious question: When's the "Day of Reckoning" coming for T-Mobile? What's going to cause it? Everyone switching "Binge On" off and crippling the network?

Good thing I take advise from you, not!! They will change thing to fit getting the most money out of any endeavor they try. For example the rates of U-Verse and DirecTV going up. The other gotcha is a contract for said services, which is 2 years.

 

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Are you referring to me?

This isn't a contract. It's a 2 Year price guarantee.... and like I said before, T-Mobile would have to increase its prices for 4 Unlimited Lines by a total of $100/month to be where Sprint's 4 Unlimited Line pricing currently is.

As for AT&T, if it increases prices too much on the TV portion, people can and will leave for other options.

Sprint is promoting a "bold" announcement on Twitter tomorrow at 8pm ET and some contest, using #SuperBold50

 

#SuperBold50 Twitter Party

When: Saturday, February 6 at 7pm CST (8pm EST, 5pm PST)

Where: Twitter – follow hashtag #SuperBold50

Brand: @SPRINT @SPRINTLATINO @SPRINTNEWS

Hosts: Sprint Twitter accounts including new ONE Sprint Area and Region handles

 

http://newsroom.sprint.com/blogs/devices-apps-and-services/superbold50.htm

Anybody here plan to drop by? What could Sprint possibly announce on a Saturday night on Twitter?

Best response is not full jump to conclusions, listen to the AT&T ads on the radio and you will here the disclaimer in which there outs a big gotcha. Basically saying that they will change your plans at anytime. And so far no one had mentioned the little fine print legalese in the T-Mobile spot yet. Better go find out, or it will bite you in the rear worse then a hungry croc.

 

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See this CNET Article:

How long can I expect AT&T to offer this deal? Will they change the plan in a few months?

AT&T has said it's offering the deal temporarily. For customers who sign up for the service, a spokesman said the company will honor it as long as you're an AT&T customer, just as it has for its existing unlimited data customers.

As for T-Mobile, this is what I see in the "Fine Print" here:

Unlimited high speed data option pricing guaranteed for 2 years of activation.

Even if T-Mobile raises prices in the future on its $150 for 4 Unlimited Lines by $100/month, it'll be where Sprint's current pricing is for 4 Unlimited Lines right now ($250/month).

Sprint should aggressively respond to this pricing. As for how, that's up to Marcelo to figure out. But it should happen.