ericdabbs

I am not sure how many markets really need the Nextel towers besides the Baton Rouge/New Orleans area. Its been voiced many times on this forum that the CDMA tower spacing in BR/NO is horrendous for voice/data speeds and that converting some Nextel towers to CDMA with Network Vision would have helped relieve this problem.

Are there any other particular markets that have bad CDMA tower spacing that could use the iDEN towers converted to Network Vision? Again Sprint's decision to not convert any iDEN towers to CDMA with NV is purely financial and they are trying to cut out as much operation costs as it can to save money. The lesser the towers the better especially with 800 MHz 1x Advanced being deployed all over the country.

Is anything on this site official LOL.

I was hoping for some LTE love by the summer since NYC was added to the 1st round market build outs.

The information on this site S4GRU.com is not official by Sprint. The only official markets that have been announced by Sprint are: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Atlanta, Baltimore and Kansas City.

However Robert does have internal documents by an inside source from Sprint so it should be pretty reliable. We will find out how reliable the internal documents are when Sprint begins to officially announce more markets. If they fall in line with Robert's info especially for the first round markets, then you should be confident that his Network Vision running list is a good barometer of when cities will be deployed with Network Vision. Based on Robert's info, NYC is scheduled for a late Fall 2012 release so it definitely will not be available by summer time frame. NYC is very difficult to cover because of all the high rise buildings and there still has to be a ton of testing to ensure that in building penetration is there as well as being able to cover the folks on the ground.

Hey guys,

I was just wondering if anyone had any idea on when the LTE upgrades would happen in St. Louis? I have been a loyal sprint customer for a long time and just realized that my 3G speeds are around 120kbps and that is horrible! Also 4G is around 1-2mb! I work right in the middle of STL and these are the speeds I get? I am excited about the new LTE and cant wait but I am hoping for a nice 3g speed increase too.....

Check out this article.

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-158-is-sprint-going-to-show-up-sooner-in-the-show-me-state/

Any word about network vision and Salt Lake City, 3G or 4G LTE? im expecting the EVO 4G LTE this week sometime and im giving sprint a year to improve there coverage here before i jump ship.

No word yet on Salt Lake City but my prediction is that it will be in the third round. I expect to see the mid tier cities get Network Vision love in the third round like Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Denver, Pittsburgh, etc. You can see the current announced markets for the first and second rounds by S4GRU here

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/212-network-visionlte-deployment-running-list/

EVO 4G LTE boot loader unlocked... This is good news!

 

http://www.androidce...ocked-just-fine

 

http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1648826

This is awesome. Much better than the AT&T One X which has a locked bootloader.

There is no need for anything bigger than a 40 MHz channel. Anything bigger than a 40 MHz channel will only be used for speedtests to show off how fast speeds and nothing else. The average user does not need greater than 40 MHz worth of speeds to browse the internet or stream video. I would much rather have Clearwire deploy three 20 MHz LTE carriers for capacity than one 60 MHz LTE carrier.

I really hope that Sprint can launch a high end LG smartphone to compete with Samsung, HTC and Motorola. If this LG flagship phone resembles anything like the LG Optimus LTE2 phone coming out, it should be able to compete with the SGS3 and the Photon 4G LTE. The phone is scheduled for a Q4 release so it has a long way to go but I am glad that Sprint is aggressively trying to add a competitive smartphone lineup to compete with Verizon and AT&T.

 

Then I hope the FCC comes in and shuts Ma Bell down and splits them up again!

I would love that.

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk

I think sprint should save their $ ammo to bid on the nationwide PCS H block coming up for auction soon to complement their G block. In urban markets where they are spectrum constrained, use clearwire to offload.

I agree IF Sprint can bid on every single PCS H block license that would be very good but I think that is going to be hard since I am sure it will be subdivided like the G block. Honestly the FCC should consider the fact that Sprint owns the PCS G block and that AT&T, Verizon, Tmobile and the smaller regional carriers are focused on obtaining AWS spectrum. They should give Sprint preference for bidding the H block since it would avoid interference issues. The FCC needs to do a better job of not just dicing up the spectrum blocks into 5 and 10 MHz chunks instead of 12 MHz and 7 MHz chunks but also they need to be considering what majority of spectrum bands holdings each carrier has to see what additional spectrum would help them most. Sprint has at least 90% of its spectrum holdings in the PCS band so additional PCS spectrum will help them most.

Im thinking that the LG phone hinted in this thread is a variant of the LG Optimus LTE2 phone recently announced to compete with the SGS3. It is suppose to be released in Korea in mid May. The LG LS970 does fit some of the proposed specs with the LG Optimus LTE2 phone with the 2GB RAM, 2150 maH battery and 4.7in (I know it says 4.67in on phandroid but it could be 4.7in) screen. The press release didn't have details about the processor or camera but im crossing my fingers and hoping this is true.

http://www.engadget....gb-ram-true-hd/

http://www.eweek.com...-of-RAM-100511/

I always saw a natural fit between MetroPCS and Sprint.

 

Sprint could easily just throw them under their prepaid arm and just have MetroPCS/Virgin Mobile/Boost Mobile brands.

 

Sell the AWS spectrum to Cricket or AT&T.

 

Only problem was the price.

 

 

With Cricket signing a TD-LTE agreement with Clearwire, maybe we will see Cricket join forces with Sprint instead.

 

 

Metro goes to T-Mobile, Cricket goes to Sprint. Cricket sells T-Mobile it's AWS spectrum.

 

 

Either way, Sprint's prepaid arm is a machine. I can imagine Metro or Leap just fitting right into Sprint's well-oiled prepaid arm.

 

I would rather see four strong national competitors vs. 2 strong and 3 weak. T-Mobile getting Metro, Sprint getting Cricket, T-Mobile getting Metro and Cricket's spectrum, Sprint profiting off selling Cricket's spectrum to T-Mobile, everyone wins.

I like the suggestion except if Sprint were to acquire Cricket, I wouldn't sell the AWS spectrum ASAP. I would keep it and see if I could do AWS for PCS spectrum licenses swap in specific locations especially in big markets like SF and Chicago (20 MHz) or smaller markets that have less than 30 MHz. Sprint needs to acquire as much PCS spectrum as it can nationwide so it can deploy larger LTE channels in the future. The problem with just getting cash is that the areas that you need more spectrum help in are not guaranteed in an spectrum auction vs. spectrum swap which the other party owns those specific spectrum licenses.

I know Tmobile and Cricket did a spectrum licenses swap earlier this year as well as other deals in the past that could make it work. The FCC should be factoring in which carriers could make best use of the spectrum and in Sprint's case the FCC should allow any PCS spectrum transfer.

eric,

I have always had this dream/idea that the smaller CDMA companies would be bought out by Sprint and become a formidable threat to both AT&T and Verizon, but as I look at the number of subscribers in my little dream spreadsheet, the total amount of subscribers still wouldn't be anywhere near AT&T or Verizon.

source: wikipedia

 

as for the question of should T-Mobile merge with MetroPCS, I wouldn't like it.

 

TS

Well I don't think anyone really thought that a purchase of MetroPCS, Leap or even both by Sprint would equate to the same amount of subscribers as Verizon or AT&T. The point is to be able to compete with Verizon and AT&T spectrum wise so that they can offer similar speeds as Verizon and AT&T. I think of the wireless industry as a zero sum game so if Sprint and Tmobile both posed a threat to Verizon and AT&T with speed and price, I could see customers fleeing Verizon and AT&T for Sprint and Tmobile thus increasing the customer base.

To be honest, I think if Verizon and AT&T both lost 20 million customers each and defected to Sprint and Tmobile, it wouldn't be so bad network wise. It would definitely help Sprint and Tmobile to get more revenue but it would tremendously relieve Verizon and AT&T's crowding LTE networks.

What do you guys think? Should Tmobile form the merger with MetroPCS and benefit both companies as well as the wireless industry OR should they remain separate? I have to think that the main motivation for Tmobile to merge with MetroPCS is for the AWS spectrum and a bump in customers since Tmobile has been bleeding badly. Just not sure how quickly Tmobile can move the MetroPCS customers off of CDMA and onto HSPA/LTE. Tmobile is in the process of doing their own Network Vision so it could get dicey.

Really, MetroPCS, Leap and USCC and a few others should merge and create a 5th national competitor. Maybe even get Sprint to host their spectrum.

As much as I like the idea of a 5th national competitor, I can't see that happening. Which company would come out as the parent company? MetroPCS? Also there are enough problems with bringing enough spectrum into the market and that a 5th carrier would make things worse. The FCC would have to ban Verizon and AT&T from participating in the next few spectrum auctions in order for Sprint, Tmobile and the Metro,Leap and USCC merger to catch up and obtain enough spectrum to be on par with Verizon and AT&T. I would like to see Tmobile and Sprint gobble up these smaller carriers to boost up their customer base and obtain some spectrum.

OK...I see what you're cooking up now. I only went through the blocks individually and did not try to assemble adjacent frequencies together.

 

Robert

I figured when you meant by MetroPCS has 2 good 5x5 chunks in the Western US, I was assuming you mean the 2 chunks in AWS Block D and E. So I figured lets not forget to mention about NYC and at least a 5x5 chunk in Boston and Philly.

I clicked on all the MetroPCS 10x10 holdings and did not see one that covers NYC. I just double checked, and still don't see it.

 

Robert

click on AWS Block C and D for MetroPCS and scroll the map. AWS Block C and D are each a 5x5 block and combined would be a 10x10. Maybe it might be better to say they have two 5x5 chunks in NYC.

Migrating customers would probably be difficult. MetroPCS is all non-contract prepaid customers isn't it? They don't have a contract keeping them tied to the service provider.

But Tmobile would just transfer them to Tmobile prepaid without any contract. Its not like Tmobile has to create a whole new prepaid division to accommodate MetroPCS. I am not sure what they would do but if Tmobile wanted to use the spectrum ASAP is offer MetroPCS customers a cheap price to switch over to the Tmobile phones and be on their network.. This is what Sprint is doing with their Nextel customers by offering a cheap price to switch over to the SDC phones.

MetroPCS and Tmo have similar spectrum holdings in AWS/PCS. The new combined company would most likely just phase out the MetroPCS network ASAP, forcing those customers to migrate into new devices (kind of like what ATT did with Alltel). I just think that MetroPCS spectrum just isn't very valuable. You can look at it here: http://specmap.sequence-omega.net/

 

Also, MetroPCS subscribers aren't very valuable either. And you can't use their network. The only value to MetroPCS, IMHO, is the spectrum. They do have two good 5x5 chunks of AWS in the Western U.S. But other than that, it is highly fractured pieces of 5x5 AWS and PCS...and a 10x10 AWS chunk in some rural Florida, Georgia and California counties.

 

Robert

According to that map, MetroPCS also have a 10x10 chunk in NYC and a 5x5 chunk in the northeast area in Philladelphia and Boston.

It appears that Deutsche Telekom parent of Tmobile is in talks with MetroPCS about a potential merger which involves a stock swap transaction that gives Deutsche Telekom majority control which would make Tmobile go public. Very interesting turn of events.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-09/deutsche-telekom-said-to-talk-to-metropcs-on-t-mobile-usa-merger

So I guess the Sierra wireless tri-fi hotspot is going to be released on May 18th for $99.99 which is also the same day as the HTC EVO 4G LTE release.

Robert's internal documents did state that May 18th was the predicted release date and I am glad it did stick with that same date. Once again S4GRU.com is the best source for Network Vision and handset news.

http://newsroom.sprint.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=2270

So both Virgin's and Boost's EVO's are launching with Android 4, ICS. I wonder when the Sprint versions will get the upgrade.

Probably when pigs fly!!!

On May 31st, Virgin will begin to sell the Evo V 4G phone and Boost will begin to sell the Evo Design 4G phone both for $299 off contract. What is interesting about these 2 phones is even though they are rebadged Sprint Wimax phones, both of these phones will come preloaded with Android 4.0 ICS software. The current Sprint versions of the EVO 3D and Evo Design 4G still do not have the ICS upgrade.

There doesn't seem to be the $10 premium data fee attached on the Virgin and Boost service and plans.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/08/virgin-mobile-usa-and-boost-take-wimax-live/

I think this is a great option for Virgin and Boost prepaid customers to be able to get 4G Wimax service at a very low price. Hopefully this will encourage those that are currently on 3G only phones to switch over to the Wimax phones especially since they will be paying the same price and for those that are in Wimax markets to use Wimax heavily to alleviate the 3G network.

What do you guys think about the latest rumors that try to confirm the May 18th launch date. Do you guys think it looks legit?

http://www.gottabemo...ottaBeMobile%29

http://insidesprintn...launches-51812/

EVO 4G LTE User Guide available

https://insidesprint..._user_guide.pdf

I really wished that Sprint used the "4GLTE" icon instead of just "4G" to indicated LTE connection status.

I am sorry but the FCC needs to be give tough love to AT&T and Verizon for not trying their hardest to use their existing spectrum before trying to ask for more. Has Verizon and AT&T even tried deploying small cells and femtocells to relieve capacity? Verizon and AT&T both need to show evidence of a best effort to deal with supplying enough capacity. I don't buy it for a second that AT&T and Verizon are completely out of spectrum. Sorry but AT&T needs to force all customers still using 2G EDGE to migrate to at least 3G phones.

If you compare that with what Sprint and Tmobile are trying to do with Sprint and the Network Vision project which does include small cell and femtocell deployment and Tmobile upgrading its network with LTE and integrated radios in antennas. I get that both AT&T and Verizon have double the amount of customers that Sprint and Tmobile have but lets not forget that only 5% of Verizon's and AT&T's customers are on LTE. With only 5% of customers on LTE using 20 MHz of spectrum and crying to the FCC that they are near capacity is unbelievable to me. There has to be some major spectrum inefficiencies or some skew facts to support that argument. At this rate, there is no way the FCC can supply enough spectrum to each carrier to keep up with this demand.

Probably. It would likely have to do one or the other. However, if I try to turn on my WiMax on my E4GT now, it tells me I have to turn off my WiFi. So not much difference really.

 

Robert via NOVO7PALADIN Tablet using Forum Runner

That totally makes sense to me. If Clearwire can take advantage of using the wifi antenna that would be awesome since the phones have limited space. You can't run wifi and 4G anyways so it makes sense you that you use one or the other.