RedSpark

This is to support additional equipment on those specific sites? How much amperage is being added? Seems like this is a good way to tell that those will be the "keep" sites post-merger? Perhaps every keep site will need an amperage upgrade?

https://investor.t-mobile.com/news-and-events/t-mobile-us-press-releases/press-release-details/2020/T-Mobile-is-Financially-Prepared-to-Close-the-Sprint-Merger/default.aspx

Saw must have been incredibly frustrated as Masa failed to provide adequate support for capex and spectrum auctions. In addition to 2.5 GHz, I wonder how he felt about Sprint sitting out the 600 MHz auction as well. We were told that it was "Spectrum of the Past" by the then-CFO, and that Sprint didn't pass on it because "it didn't have the money". We all know now that this talking point was a complete lie given the recent disclosures during the merger trial. Sprint truly didn't have the money for it and its lack of lowband also happens to be one of the primary reasons that the merger is happening in the first place. Enjoy your plan!

Yeah, I don't think we'll have a Network Vision experience. They've been planning for this for a long time now, and they have brought on John Saw who can provide guidance on integrating Sprint's network assets into T-Mobile's anchor network. I'm looking forward to them flipping the switch too. Hopefully it happens soon and I believe it will all happen pretty quickly. Could make sense to get that Unlimited Premium plan with your discount, especially with the price guarantee.

Agreed. I think T-Mobile will be able to execute well. T-Mobile's integration of MetroPCS and its rapid deployment of 600 MHz shows it can be done with the right management team. Spectrum only matters if Apple makes an iPhone which supports it.... which they seem to do on their own schedule.

T-Mobile and Sprint are nearing a close on their merger deal, and are poised to pool their respective spectrum resources. Together they’ll have high-band 47 GHz spectrum covering most of the country, and appeared to have picked up licenses in adjacent markets. Combined, T-Mobile and Sprint are licensed to provide service using 47 GHz spectrum to 95% of the U.S. population (315,331,464 people), according to Goemmer. How about that....

Seems to be a pattern with SoftBank... At least there's money available for Sprint now... Oh wait.

Good move.

According to this, "New T-Mobile" is going to divest its Band 26 to Dish: http://about.dish.com/2019-07-26-DISH-to-Become-National-Facilities-based-Wireless-Carrier Of course, if you've seen the most recent 800 MHz Transition report, the 800 MHz reconfiguration project is still slogging along: https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1030388607753/800 MHz Monthly Report March 2020.pdf There's additional detail in this Quarterly Progress Report (For the Quarter Ending December 31, 2019) from the 800 MHz Transition Administrator: https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/10313373707297/Quarterly_Progress_Report_Q4_2019.pdf

Expanded roaming... Curious what that means, especially since it’s going to run through the planned merger closure date and the CPUC decision date of April 16. ....... we plan to expand capacity for customers with compatible devices for 60 days by deploying 600 MHz spectrum from multiple companies, including Bluewater, Channel 51, Comcast, DISH, Grain Management affiliate NewLevel, LLC, LB Holdings and Omega Wireless, LLC in the markets where it can be quickly deployed. FCC Chairman Pai has led the way for an industry-wide response with the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, and these partnerships help address critical broadband needs during this pandemic. Pending FCC approval, we expect to rapidly place this additional spectrum into service within days. We’ve also expanded roaming access for Sprint customers to use the T-Mobile network. With expanded roaming access tens of thousands of locations nationwide, schools and families connected to Sprint’s network will have expanded coverage and capacity – including in rural areas – over the next 60 days.

Some important information. Glad to see this.

Considering that Marcelo was able to trim so much bloat and waste from the company during his tenure, I’m curious what her role was in that. Maybe she was picked to do the same thing when the companies combine. Of course, the other side of that coin is that she oversaw a workforce in an HR capacity that had serious morale issues over the years. Maybe there was only so much she could do...

That doesn’t mean it was well run. The churn that Boost and Sprint both had (and still have) is ridiculous compared to the competition. Both companies have been bleeding out customers for years through churn and expiring promos. On top of that, Virgin Mobile was effectively nerfed under his tenure when it went iPhone only. Virgin never should have been its own brand anyway. All of that money spent on it should have gone into the Sprint network. Doesn’t matter now I guess.

I’m glad that Dr. Saw is involved from a network perspective, given his knowledge of 2.5 GHz for 5G and his knowledge of how Sprint’s network is set up. This will enable integration to go more quickly. This I’m fine with. I’m surprised they went with a Sprint person for HR. Given Sprint’s financial challenges over the past years, this should be a much more positive work environment for her. Nestor Cano is clearly Marcelo’s pick for the role. As for Dow Draper: Brandon “Dow” Draper is the Executive Vice President of Emerging Products at T-Mobile. Previously, he was the Chief Commercial Officer at Sprint, responsible for commercial strategy, including marketing and sales for the Sprint, Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile brands. In his role, Dow focused on delivering a cohesive and coordinated go-to-market strategy for Sprint’s sales and marketing segments. Previously, he served as President of Sprint Prepaid Group, including the Boost Mobile, Sprint Prepaid and Virgin Mobile brands. Under his leadership, Prepaid returned to growth. Was the disastrous ”Free Year” program his idea or did Marcelo come up with that? This pick comes as a shock to me given Sprint’s ineffective marketing initiatives and poor social media presence compared to T-Mobile.

Seems like Saw will be part of New T-Mobile! https://newtmobile.com/senior-leadership-team/ JOHN SAW EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCED AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Agreed. T-Mobile knows how to execute network integrations pretty well. I’m looking forward to T-Mobile putting some real capex behind these spectrum holdings. Both networks are getting what sounds like a top to bottom review, site by site, and T-Mobile will be able to pick and choose the best site placements and equipment to have on each. It’s going to be a killer network. Verizon and AT&T have every reason to be worried.

I’m sure both companies have done as much prep work as possible before the “go” date. Given T-Mobile’s handling of the MetroPCS integration, this should go pretty quickly and smoothly.

Wow! It’s happening!

There’s been no official word. I’d imagine they’d want to keep him for the integration phase because of his knowledge of Sprint’s network and expertise with 2.5 GHz spectrum.

In reading the Press Release, California forced some incredible concessions by “New T-Mobile”. What they’ve effectively done is ensured that New T-Mobile will have a substantial price increase in 3-5 years to make up the difference.

The latest...

Ridiculous. Just let this end already.

Only so much you can do when you have a substantial disparity like that.

I’m glad to hear that. Hopefully this continues. However, there are too many places I’ve been in DC where Sprint’s indoor coverage is totally inadequate. I have to attribute that to Sprint’s relative lack of lowband spectrum vs the other carriers and not having enough cell sites.

This also helps to sell the narrative that the merger is “necessary”. Can’t have Sprint looking too good now you know. This merger is only “necessary” because Masa wouldn’t open his wallet to put Sprint on a competitive footing after he acquired it. You have to give credit to Marcelo and the PR folks. They really sold a story that Sprint wasn’t salvageable and that a Merger was the only way home. Somehow they were able to shroud the fact that Sprint was merely a part of Masa’s vast asset holdings. Hey, it’s what they get paid to do.