RedSpark

More casino coverage! ? Follows on these previously announced upgrades...

The new version is supposed to drop pretty soon right? I wonder how the Magic Box fits into the overall picture of a merger. Thoughts?

LTE Plus isn’t shown anymore. Is this a new thing?

https://www.broadcastingcable.com/.amp/news/fcc-seeks-comment-on-t-mobile-sprint If you want to tell the FCC how you feel about the merger, now’s your chance! Shot Clock Page: https://www.fcc.gov/transaction/t-mobile-sprint

Is there any indication that the pace of 2.5 GHz deployment has increased, decreased or stayed the same given the merger announcement? Has the additional capex kicked in and had an effect yet?

http://investors.sprint.com/news-and-events/press-releases/press-release-details/2018/Sprint-Corporation-Schedules-Fiscal-2018-First-Quarter-Results-Announcement/default.aspx Happening August 1st. Predictions?

If the merger doesn’t go through, would Sprint go the same route as Verizon and stop selling CDMA devices at some point prior to a shutdown? If the merger does go through, I can envision T-Mobile shutting down CDMA relatively quickly as it did for MetroPCS.

If the merger fails, how long will Sprint’s CDMA remain live? If the merger succeeds, how long will Sprint’s CDMA remain live?

“AND soon”.... I wonder what the device cutoff will be by brand. iPhone 6 and subsequent models support VoLTE.

Fantastic! Some good background on the DAS build (400 antennas, 24 sectors) here: https://www.rcrwireless.com/20180705/network-infrastructure/jma-wireless-deploys-das-solution-washington-nationals-park-stadium-tag23 “JMA Wireless’ TEKO DAS supports four carriers along with the 700, 800, 850, 1900, 2100, 2300 and 2500 bands, and LTE, CDMA, EVDO and UMTS technologies.” Based on this section of this article (https://www.mobilesportsreport.com/2018/07/massive-mimo-is-sprints-path-to-5g-says-cto-saw/), Sprint is actually pretty picky about DAS: In fact, Saw said Sprint has been somewhat of a reluctant DAS participant at times, including at the most recent Super Bowls. In the last two of the NFL’s “big game” events, Super Bowl 51 in Houston and Super Bowl 52 in Minneapolis, Saw said Sprint used small cell deployments instead of the neutral DAS systems to augment its coverage. “We had hundreds of small cells, inside and outside [the venues],” Saw said. “We got the same performance, maybe better, for a lot less money.” Part of the issue for Sprint and DAS, Saw said, is that the carrier usually has to pay more for its unique spectrum bands, especially the 2.5 GHz frequencies which are not used by any of the other major wireless carriers. “We always think through before we sign up for DAS fees… there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” Saw said. While in many cases there is no alternative except to participate in a neutral-host configuration, Saw said “we do prefer small cells.”

Was this posted on Twitter? Glad to hear things are in the works. Will it be a PRL for Roaming and Carrier Update for VoLTE? I just hope Sprint keeps the pedal floored. This merger isn’t a sure thing and they’ve got some catching up to do.

Just posted: http://newsroom.sprint.com/what-happens-when-you-assemble-chorus-about-100-sprint-employees-to-sing-little-ditty-highlighting-new-incredible-offer.htm

Gmail syncs with the Stock Mail App using IMAP. However, it’s also been an option to configure a gmail account as an exchange account. https://www.lifewire.com/what-are-gmail-exchange-activesync-settings-1170851 https://www.imore.com/how-set-exchange-accounts-your-iphone-ipad-or-ipod-touch

Where did you hear this?

Interesting development and partnership: http://sixflags.sprint.com/ Release: http://newsroom.sprint.com/sprint-rewards-its-customers-with-sprint-customer-appreciation-days-at-six-flags-great-america.htm (“The one-of-a-kind relationship, network upgrades and additions are estimated at $1.4 million.”) Sprint Experience Store: Sprint, for the first time, has opened an experience store for all park visitors at Six Flags Great America. It is open daily at the theme park starting at noon, and offers a comfortable indoor, climate-controlled environment with free amenities including Wi-Fi, charging stations, a big screen to watch a game, digital photo station, and shop exclusive deals on Sprint products3. “Six Flags Great America is excited to launch the first-ever Sprint experience store with new technologies to enhance the park guest experience,” said Stephanie Borges, Six Flags VP of Strategic Marketing & Partnerships. “This innovative relationship creates a unique environment for our park guests where they can enjoy free WiFi, a place to charge their devices among other exciting benefits.” Sprint’s Network Investment: Sprint has invested heavily in its network at Six Flags Great America and surrounding areas (ex: Gurnee Mills) through the deployment of tools such as small cells. The company will soon be lighting up a new cell site at the park that features all three of Sprint’s spectrum bands – 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz – to give customers its fastest, most reliable service. Later this summer the company expects to deploy innovative Massive MIMO technology to dramatically boost network capacity and data speeds for park visitors. This innovative technology is core to Sprint’s planned 5G mobile network launch beginning in first half of 2019 with Chicago among its first 5G markets. Small cells are low-powered boxes installed on telephone poles, streetlights or other types of infrastructure throughout the theme park to boost data speeds. The small cells connect to the park’s Outdoor Distributed Antenna System (oDAS) in order to transmit Sprint’s 2.5 GHz service throughout Six Flags Great Americas.

Good point. Virgin essentially went silent quite some time ago. The uptake numbers must have been really low. Oh well.

Guess Virgin Mobile isn’t coming along for the ride: https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2018/07/10/virgin-mobile-staff-cuts-closing-imminent.html (Paywalled, but the first paragraph summarizes it.)

You bet. Hopefully they under-promise and over-deliver on this.

Source for the 60% figure and “substantial majority” date: http://newsroom.sprint.com/triband-upgrades.htm (Posted June 5, 2018 by Scott Santi, Head of Network Deployment & Operations)

A combination of limited funds available (also due to essentially no capital assistance coming from SoftBank) and rebanding delays in certain affected areas.

Hmmmmmm... https://venturebeat.com/2018/07/06/intel-says-5g-plans-for-iphone-are-unchanged/ Updated: https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3741719,00.html

Hopefully Calling Plus stress tested the network sufficiently to ensure adequate VoLTE performance. Also, the relative maturity of VoLTE at this point may help Sprint’s deployment as well.

I agree that Sprint has plenty of potential, much more than its competitors have in certain ways as you mentioned. However, Sprint’s Band 41 deployment won’t be at a “substantial majority” until the end of Fiscal 2018, which is almost a year from now... and that doesn’t mean “completed”. Based on this disclosed timeline, I respectfully disagree with your characterization of “in no time”. Is this a “Balls to the Wall” deployment schedule? It’s hard to know for sure. What do you mean by “pity tour”? Is Sprint misleading Congress/FCC on the necessity of the merger? As for funding, Sprint needs to keep building/spending as if this merger won’t be approved, and accelerate it... because if it doesn’t and if the merger is rejected, Sprint could fall further behind with respect to the competition. As for building up the customer base, if the merger is rejected, Sprint will have years ahead of it to do that... and hopefully SoftBank is willing to pitch in some capital to help it along.

Exactly. Given SoftBank’s original intent was always to merge with T-Mobile, it should have provided the necessary capital to ensure Sprint would have the majority/controlling stake should it happen or to be a stronger competitor should the merger fail. It’s inexplicable to me why Masa didn’t ensure this.

That’s fair. According to this Wall article (http://s4gru.com/entry/429-psa-sprint-begins-band-13-deployment-in-puerto-rico/), Sprint’s Band 26 is either 5x5, 3x3 or non-existent.