RedSpark

1 hour ago, twospirits said:

As for it being all Sprints' fault for sitting out on the auctions, I'm not sure that is 100% correct. They may have had not choice or lack of money to participate.

https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/sprint-cfo-robbiati-600-mhz-spectrum-past

According to the prior CFO (Date: November 30, 2016):

“We did not participate in the 600 MHz (auction) not because we didn’t have money at the time, or we were under-resourced for it,” he said. “It is simply spectrum that is spectrum of the past. The world is moving toward high-capacity wireless data networks, and in that world the best and most efficient spectrum that is needed for that… is mid-band spectrum, the spectrum that we have, the 2.5 GHz spectrum.”

Assuming he's being truthful here, Sprint's non-participation in the auction wasn't due to a lack of money.

Robbiati also noted that the TV broadcasters’ airwaves currently up for grabs may not be available for several years. The FCC has issued a 39-month repacking plan for that spectrum, enabling the broadcasters to move to other airwaves while their former spectrum is reshuffled for wireless use.  

“Why invest in 600 MHz spectrum if that spectrum doesn’t really cater for the future, and also it’s spectrum you cannot deploy for four years?” Robbiati asked rhetorically. “And it doesn’t have an ecosystem in support as widespread as 2.5 spectrum, which is the largest ecosystem in the world.”

Based on T-Mobile's progress on 600 MHz to date, he seems like he was incorrect on this.

18 minutes ago, kct1975 said:

Personally I agree with what has been said before on this site...

If the T-Mobile & Sprint Merger does not get approved by the Federal Gov't then Sprint will eventually go out of business within the next 5 years and will be sold off in parts to the other Wireless Carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) and some of the spectrum most likely will be sold off to Direct TV and Dish Network.

Another possibility would be that Sprint would be sold off in parts to cable companies like Comcast and Cox Cable.


Either way, if the Sprint & T-Mobile Merger does not get approved, then Sprint will most likely be gone soon.

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I don't know if Sprint will go out of business, but without a substantial cash/capital infusion from Banks/Bonds/SoftBank, it seems Sprint will be relegated to being an Urban 5G Carrier with essentially the same 4G footprint it has now (subject to roaming agreements) unless any of those native coverage expansion projects are still happening. (Are they?)

Personally, I don't support the merger because I want to preserve competition in the postpaid carrier space, and I believe having only three carriers with a combined Sprint/T-Mobile is insufficient for doing that.

Of course, Sprint's decision to not participate in the 600 MHz auction has put it in the position of trying to deploy 2.5 GHz nationwide economically, which sounds eerily similar to what Sprint has said about its competitors' deployments of MMwave: https://www.lightreading.com/mobile/5g/sprint-says-no-to-mmwave-yes-to-mobile-5g/d/d-id/739592

Sprint's CTO said Wednesday that he is not sure that using millimeter waves to deliver 5G services is a practical economic use of the high-band spectrum and that Sprint will be focusing on using its existing bandwidth to deploy 5G, at least initially.

"What is the cost to deliver a bit over millimeter waves? Where is the business case on that?" John Saw asked at the Citi conference in Las Vegas.

Here’s the timeline on Sprint’s lawsuit against AT&T’s use of “5G E”: https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2019/02/19/at-t-will-move-faster-than-hoped-on-sprint-5g.html

19 hours ago, Thomas L. said:

The reality is they put themselves in a situation that would require them to merge because that was what they wanted to do, and they hoped to make that argument to regulators. Again, Softbank didn't want them to exist solo, they bought Sprint with the intention of merging. They're not making business decisions that are best for them as a solo company. 

So if this merger fails to go through, SoftBank is in a real fix. In its effort to merge with T-Mobile, Masa wound up having to relinquish Sprint being the majority owner of the combined entity... and now it's facing the reality of spending much more than it would have had to spend on deploying 5G nationwide than if it had some 600 MHz spectrum to help with it.

Marcelo laid it on pretty thick: https://www.kcur.org/post/clouds-gathering-over-sprint-t-mobile-deal-opposition-gets-louder#stream/0

......

"It's impossible to compete," Claure said.  

He painted a bleak picture of Sprint if the merger fails to go through, saying it won't be able to offer service to rural customers and will only build a limited 5G (next generation) network.

"Unfortunately, as you know, Sprint doesn't generate any cash flow," Claure said. "And if we gotta build this network on our own, we need to spend between $20 billion and $25 billion. We're going to have to go to the banks, we’re going to have to go to the bond markets."

....

He’s painting a grim picture, but $20-25 Billion from the Banks/Bond Markets seems doable given SoftBank’s ownership. I’m not getting the fear factor here.

Why SoftBank/Marcelo had Sprint completely pass on the 600 MHz auction to leave it all for T-Mobile is beyond me, especially since one of major justifications Marcelo is making for the merger is that Sprint lacks nationwide low-band spectrum.

As I imagine it, Sprint’s $20-25 Billion figure would be less if it had the deployment efficiencies of 600 MHz spectrum.

T-Mobile spent $7.99 Billion on 600 MHz: https://www.t-mobile.com/news/tmobile-spectrum-auction-win

Sprint could have afforded this, or ar least fraction of it for a nationwide footprint. Now we’re hearing $20-25 Billion.

Sprint boxed itself into deploying 2.5 GHz nationwide, which is much more costly, or merging with T-Mobile.... and it chose merging.

3 hours ago, NYC126 said:

So Claure is now crying that Sprint doesn't have low band spectrum to compete..... Well wasn't this the guy alone with his former CFO that said during many conferences earning calls that low band is the spectrum of the past. Sprint/Softbank colluded with Tmobile to allow them to buy most of the 600mhz band while they sat out. 

Yup: https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/sprint-cfo-robbiati-600-mhz-spectrum-past

Sprint pushed for a larger Spectrum Reserve in the 600 MHz Auction, alongside T-Mobile/Dish: https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/t-mobile-sprint-and-dish-push-for-40-mhz-spectrum-reserve-600-mhz-auction

As far as collusion goes, I have my suspicions there was, and I do believe Sprint’s ensuring a reserve and then bowing out of the auction was a long risky play for a T-Mobile Merger.

Believe him?

https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/congress-challenges-t-mobile-sprint-merits-merger

While Claure said Sprint is “no longer in dire financial straits,” he told lawmakers the company cannot upgrade its network on its own because it lacks low-band spectrum and capital.

Claure testified that Sprint would need up to $25 billion to build a 5G network as a standalone company, and without positive cash flow the company would have to take on more debt and raise prices to pay off that debt.

House Energy & Commerce Committee Hearing on Wednesday: https://energycommerce.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-on-protecting-consumers-and-competition-an-examination-of-the-t

Legere’s Written Testimony: https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/LegereJ_Testimony2.pdf

Marcelo’s Written Testimony: https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/ClaureM_Testimony.pdf

........

House Judiciary Committee Hearing on Thursday: https://judiciary.house.gov/legislation/hearings/state-competition-wireless-market-examining-impact-proposed-merger-t-mobile-and

5G can be a real differentiator for Sprint. Hopefully it’s a rapid and wide deployment.

Dr. Saw bringing the hashtag heat...

Good on him for doing this!

There’s inherent brand value in 5G for Sprint that’s worth protecting.

Another interesting article: https://www.mobilesportsreport.com/2019/02/super-bowl-53-smashes-wi-fi-record-with-24-tb-of-traffic-at-mercedes-benz-stadium/

Very detailed stats on Wi-Fi usage and the “take rate”.

Verizon also implemented Wi-Fi offloading: “autoconnect in play”

Here’s Dr. Saw’s take on Sprint’s lawsuit against AT&T:

Anyone at the auto show?

I hope we see Massive MIMO at more event venues. It made a huge difference at the Super Bowl.

Link: https://newsroom.sprint.com/sprint-scores-for-big-game.htm

In fact, several massive MIMO sites carried on average 80 percent of the data traffic inside the stadium.

6 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:

Sprint is suing AT&T over ‘5G E’ lies

Good on Sprint for protecting the integrity of what 5G is, and for protecting its own brand value.

AT&T pulled these shenanigans once before with “4G” on the iPhone 4s.

Link: https://www.macworld.com/article/1165768/ios_5_1_update_brings_4g_label_to_iphone_4s_on_atandts_network.html

Plan ahead! 😀

2020: South Florida, Hard Rock Stadium, Super Bowl 54

2021: Tampa, Raymond James Stadium, Super Bowl 55

2022: Los Angeles, Los Angeles Stadium, Super Bowl 56

2023: Glendale, University of Phoenix Stadium, Super Bowl 57

2024: New Orleans, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Super Bowl 58

Here’s Sprint’s stats: https://newsroom.sprint.com/sprint-scores-for-big-game.htm

2 hours ago, Terrell352 said:

All Tmobile, Sprint and Verizon have the same site density. ATT is one tower less in the area. Sprint is the only carrier that tried to use a small cell but the county shut that down really quick. The nearest tower is only 1.8 miles down the road. The other 3 carriers have no issue with it just Sprint it's not range its congestion. The way I see it massive mimo is the only solution besides adding a new tower

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Sprint is likely aware of the tower load through Glance and other network tools, but it could be a good idea to report the issue in the My Sprint App. If the local network team can make a case for Massive MIMO and there’s available funds, it’ll likely get upgraded at some point.

Unless there’s a merger, in which case it could get eventually deprecated in favor of the T-Mobile gear.

11 minutes ago, Terrell352 said:

I wont post it because of the rules but Sprint recently upgraded an incredibly busy tower with 8t8r 8port equipment. 2 of the three antenna run at under 1mbps most of the day even at 80s dbm signal. The 3rd antenna between 70-110 in the day. Late night I have seen speeds over 200 mbps. That's a lot of people that even good backhaul,3xCA TM9, 4x4 mimo, 256qam and upload CA cant handle. Verizon and Tmobile are co located. Verizon put up what appears to be a massive mimo antenna and tmobile has a 12 antenna set up. The tower guy thought Sprint was crazy for not using massive mimo. But Sprints network is alot better than it was. I just cant help but think that b25/26/b41 CA should have been implemented already. Sprint is the only carrier than does not aggregate different bands. It would help indoors alot because I can tell you the minute b41 is gone its hit or miss with b25. Although b25 upload speeds are alot more consistent.

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Aside from upgrading to Massive MIMO, what’s the solution here? Another fill-in site?

8 minutes ago, tyroned3222 said:

 

Too much to write lol


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I’m asking specifically about the 800 MHz rebanding. Would another carrier have been able to get public safety entities off of 800 MHz faster than Sprint has/did?

If you ask me, Sprint should have participated in the 600 MHz auction. T-Mobile has been rolling that out at an incredible pace... and Sprint could have done the same.

Of course, one of Sprint’s justifications for the merger is that it lacks low band spectrum.... go figure.

Just now, bigsnake49 said:

Everybody but Sprint would have taken care of it by now.

Forget about 4xCA, why is a major tower on a major intersection in Melbourne still have only 2xCA?

What would another carrier have done differently?

As for 2xCA, that’s a good question.

https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/102012121602372/800 MHz Monthly Report for FEB 1 2019 replacement.pdf

Some substantial progress on the 800 MHz front.

Anyone here luck out?