ericdabbs

Interesting but the article is dated over a year ago so plans may have changed especially with the FCC approving WCS spectrum for LTE. AT&T also have some high end phones (ex SGS3) where it supports AWS LTE support and we have yet to see AT&T even come out about deploying LTE in AWS spectrum so I take this with a grain of salt. The T-mobile breakup fee really hurt AT&T since AT&T gave up some nice valuable AWS spectrum which it already didn't have that much to begin with. I see AT&T abandoning AWS spectrum in the future and focus on its other bands it already has near nationwide coverage of. AT&T should have more spectrum in the PCS band and its approved WCS band for LTE. I would think that AT&T should focus on adding capacity like Verizon is doing and deploying LTE on PCS next would be the wisest choice over Cellular and WCS. I just think that AT&T will probably refarm Celluar spectrum last since it can keep the nice range of HSPA+ in Cellular and PCS while slowly refarming spare PCS spectrum and WCS spectrum for LTE. But I can see AT&T deploying LTE on Celluar quicker if Verizon starts deploying LTE on its Cellular spectrum since they tend to follow each other.

I hope there is a new update this week. Sprint needs to keep the pedal on the metal.

Where did you read that AT&T is getting ready to deploy LTE over Cellular? I would think that AT&T would deploy LTE over PCS and WCS spectrum before refarming Cellular. AT&T needs to keep GSM as long as it can until VoLTE is usable. Also I agree with you that I see Cellular, AWS and PCS bands as the LTE roaming bands in the US given that all carriers have PCS and most have AWS (except Sprint) and Cellular (sprint and tmobile would rely on LTE roaming on the big 2) to increase their service.

worker compensation

Anyone see LTE activity in the San Gabriel, Arcadia, Temple City as well as the Rowland Heights and Hacienda Heights area?

thanks so much for sharing the details of what you have currently so far. I didn't realize how tedious the process is just to construct and deploy a NV site. I am sure Alcatel and Samsung have similar processes just like Ericcson does to ensure they go through their checklist to ensure the NV site is ready to be launched for the long haul. Imagining Sprint doing this for all 38000+ Sprint sites for NV is just still hard to fathom. May I suggest if you do share any more details that you can to be in the Premier Sponsor section. At least the audience would be more limited.

Buying Leap for its PCS spectrum is something I think Sprint should still consider in the future since they do have some valuable PCS spectrum in their C block. Sprint already has 3 deals on the table waiting for FCC approval so they have enough on their plate for now. Executing Network Vision and complete ASAP should be their number 1 priority to stay with the competition.

I was wondering if you guys think that Sprint will try to pursue PCS divestitures from the Tmobile/MetroPCS merger to bolster those 20 MHz markets that are in dire needs of more PCS spectrum? I guess the only way this will happen is if the FCC would have to force Tmobile to divest PCS spectrum if that was a condition for approval. I would like to see make an attempt at PCS divesitures if possible since it appears that going forward AWS spectrum will be Tmobile's bread and butter spectrum for LTE.

I'll be looking out for the tri band LTE devices. My contract ends in June 2013 and I would love to pick up a LTE phones with 800/1900/2500 MHz LTE support. If the SGS4 phone has tri band LTE, I am sold.

I'll be monitoring to see how fast Tmobile starts deploying LTE markets this year. So far they have said they would launch LTE in Las Vegas within the next 2 weeks. I wonder if any other markets are scheduled to launch by the end of this month. If Tmobile starts deploying LTE out like gangbusters that doesn't look good on Sprint who has been at least a quarter behind schedule in LTE/Network Vision deployment.

Looks like Sprint is also monitoring Tmobile's new handset pricing model. Should be interesting to see how this plays out for Tmobile. Last paragraph of the article. "We're working on some interesting things" in this area, Van Norman hinted, without providing details. Interestingly, Van Norman also said Sprint is closely watching T-Mobile USA's new approach to handset pricing. T-Mobile recently announced it would soon discontinue offering subsidies on devices, instead allowing customers to either buy their device upfront of pay for their device in monthly installments. "I think we're watching what T-Mobile is doing closely," Van Norman said. "We're evaluating it to see if there are opportunities." http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/softbank-sprint-plans-challenge-rivals-handset-purchases/2013-01-11

Does this mean that Sprint and Dish are actually talking to each about a network sharing agreement but both companies don't see eye to eye on the terms? I honestly dont believe that Dish has any true intentions about making a serious bid for Clearwire. If anything Dish is just trying to punk Sprint for having to shift 5 MHz to account to avoid H block interference and wants more favorable terms. Time will only tell.

The thing that confuses me now is that since Sprint bought out Clearwire. I am not sure if the plans changed for TD-LTE deployment strategy for 2013. I would think that Sprint would ideally want to deploy TD-LTE on any of its 38,000 Network Vision sites they plan to keep plus a X number of sites that Sprint will keep from Clearwire for simplicity. I think deploying TD-LTE on Network Vision sites is best for the long term strategy and be future proof since Sprint can save costs on tower leases, power, waiting for build permits for Clearwire towers, etc. I don't mind if Sprint delays for the time being and doesn't meet its 2,000 cell sites by June 2013 if it means the TD-LTE deployment planning is for Network Vision sites only. Sprint will have to add all new antennas and RRUs for TD-LTE anyways so most of the WiMAX equipment is useless.

But wouldn't Sprint and Clearwire have to start deploying now in order to meet the 2,000 TD-LTE sites in 31 markets by June 2013? I know this was based on the assumption back then when Sprint and Clearwire were separate. Obviously the Sprint buyout of Clearwire changes things but I am hoping that Sprint is planning to deploy TD-LTE some time this year and have its high end LTE devices (HTC M7, SGS4, LG Optimus G2, SGN3, Moto X) that support Band 41. Another big question I have is if Sprint does deploy TD-LTE on its Network Vision sites wouldn't Sprint have to modify build permit plans for a ton of towers in the targeted markets to add the TD-LTE antennas and RRUs. I agree that Sprint should try to leverage adding TD-LTE to its own Sprint Network Vision towers as much as it can so it save costs on paying for unnecessary tower leases from Clearwire. This whole Clearwire debacle still has a long way of sorting itself out.

I wonder if Clearwire is going to display a coverage map of where the TD-LTE hotspots are going to be. Some color coded map that displays WiMAX and TD-LTE coverage would be a nice addition. Although I don't really expect to see much coverage for only 2,000 sites spread out among 31 markets initially.

Whatever Sprint plans to do with Clearwire LTE, I just really hope that Sprint comes out with LTE devices in 2013 that support 1900 and 2500 MHz LTE. If 800 MHz LTE support were also added to 2013 LTE devices it would be icing on the cake.

Does anyone know if Clearwire will install new antennas and RRU equipment on its towers for its deployment of TD-LTE? I don't know how robust and future proof Clearwire's current tower infrastructure for its WiMAX network. I expect Clearwire's TD-LTE equipment to be put to heavy use in the future for capacity once Sprint starts kicking 2.5 GHz deployment into high gear. I would be curious to see if Sprint will deploy Clearwire LTE on some of its own Sprint NV towers.

Didn't Sprint officially say that they plan to touch and add LTE all 38,000 of its towers? If that is the case, this is not good news since they are clearly ignoring LTE on these ground mounted RRUs and using the legacy antennas. Why they are still using the legacy antennas instead of the NV antennas for these sites still boggles me. Sprint should just spend all the capital it can to upgrade every single tower site with future proof cell site equipment. I wish Softbank could have a say in it and force Sprint to spend the money to upgrade these ground mounted RRU sites.

At least the ground mounted RRU and No 800 MHz sites are outside of the main city of Las Vegas. I just hope the remainder of the NV sties get 800 MHz and 1900 MHz LTE and CDMA.

I hope so but Sprint needs to release more than 1 HTC device per year.

I think the M7 phone should be a 5 in device like the droid dna. I went to a verizon store and played with the droid dna and it is a beauty. Im pretty sure the sgs4 is going to be 5 in and it would be nice tothe see a competing product. Only problem with sprint is that they only come out with one flagship phone for htc and those that dont like the 4.7 - 5 in display category wont be happy. Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2

*sigh* Verizon and AT&T always ahead of the game. I just hope that Tmobile doesn't lap Sprint in deploying LTE in Phoenix.

I am also very concerned that Sprint would still use legacy antennas even if it wasn't deploying LTE. I would still think even if they are just deploying just CDMA 1900 that they would want to use the NV antennas since I am sure there are improvements in tilt and capacity that legacy antennas do not provide. Who knows if in the future the opportunity can present where they can add LTE to this site. For gosh sake's the new NV antennas is capable of 800 and 1900 MHz support while the legacy antennas only support 1900 MHz. I assume its a cost savings issue but I still think its worth the investment in the long term. I can't imagine using legacy antennas for the next decade *shivers* Personally I think Sprint needs to get rid of every single legacy antenna, cabinet, radios, backhaul, etc as if its building an entire cellular network from the ground up.

Nice pictures of Ground mounted RRUs and NV cabinets of your nearest tower. I wonder what the power loss difference is between Ground mounted RRUs and RRUs mounted on top of towers next to the antennas? I am sure these ground mounted RRUs must still be an improvement on the legacy ground radios that there are currently.

Any update on more sites for Phoenix since?