bigsnake49

 

 

How much AWS could they really get? Buying up Metro and Leap would probably cost them somewhere around 15+ billion dollars, and that would only give them around 10Mhz of nationwide AWS. I doubt they would ever get a good enough amount of AWS.

 

According to

 

http://specmap.sequence-omega.net/

 

Sprint has almost complete nationwide coverage using just Block A and B, which are 30Mhz blocks, plus more in blocks C-F, which are 10mhz and 10Mhz nationwide on the G-block

 

If you do not trust that source, One of our contributors, AJ, created this map some time ago of Sprint's spectrum holdings.

 

 

 

Even if we go by this map, Most areas are covered in 30Mhz of spectrum. This map does not include sprint's G-Block either.

 

Unless Sprint decides to buy the spectrumCo AWS, they will not get enough AWS for it to matter. It would be better to focus on bolstering PCS holdings, Buying Clearwire( which including debt would be cheaper than Leap or Metro), and possibly buying the rest of the SMR in the future.

I don't want them to buy them for their AWS spectrum. They should try to trade AWS spectrum from their acquisition for PCS spectrum.

While I agree on Sprint getting PCS H block (I have been hearing about this since 2004), SMR spectrum becoming available is news to me. What SMR spectrum is this? If it's 900MHz spectrum, Sprint does not own the whole 5Mhz block so they would have to buy out the rest of the spectrum holders. Would FCC allow it? Where is the other SMR spectrum going to come from?

Ok if its not feasible, why is that spectrum so valuable to sprint? They had to move on that spectrum or lose it is what I read in another post in this thread. If this 2600MHz is going to have the same building penetration and need the same number of towers to run a full LTE deployment, is it really that important. I am guessing when clearwire deploys their 2600MHz LTE it will still be in a limited amount of markets. I think sprint should be trying to find some spectrum that would have better building penetration, and require less towers. Having LTE service in a spectrum I can't get most of the time indoors is not going to make me happier

It's not that valuable except in dense urban environments like NY and San Fran and a few other downtowns. That's why I am a firm advocate of Sprint acquiring both MetroPCS and Leap (Cricket) and maybe USCC and CSpire Wireless. That will force them to support the AWS band or try and spectrum swap PCS for AWS spectrum. The big monkey wrench is what Dish is going to do. If they clear the FCC unscathed, then Sprint is a natural to partner with them either to host Dish's spectrum or merge/acquire them. Sprint needs the steady income of either a wireline or a satellite TV network. Getting rid of Embarq was a big mistake in my mind. There's still money to be made on business lines.

I think that if Sprint executes well on its Network Vision plans and starts making money, people's perception of Sprint will change. Until that time, Sprint will have to buckle down and execute.

I would like for Sprint to either acquire or host the regionals' spectrum. It will much cheaper for everybody involved and will allow for much better spectrum utilization. I would also like for Sprint and everybody else to cooperate and spectrum swap within MTAs or BTAs to consolidate disparate spectrum into contiguous bands. For example, Metro owns 1895-1900 and 1900-1905 MHz blocks while Sprint owns 1905-1910 and 1910-1915 in my area . Sprint also owns 1865-1870MHz. If they agree to spectrum share in my area, they could probably accomodate all 1x Advanced voice in the 1865-1870 block and have a contiguous 20MHz data block between 1895-1915Mhz. I know that carrier aggregation will allow them to virtually consolidate their spectrum holdings, but you can't avoid intermediate guard bands by just using carrier aggregation.

I would like for Sprint to either acquire or host the regionals' spectrum. It will much cheaper for everybody involved and will allow for much better spectrum utilization. I would also like for Sprint and everybody else to cooperate and spectrum swap within MTAs or BTAs to consolidate disparate spectrum into contiguous bands. For example, Metro owns 1895-1900 and 1900-1905 MHz blocks while Sprint owns 1905-1910 and 1910-1915 in my area . Sprint also owns 1865-1870MHz. If they agree to spectrum share in my area, they could probably accomodate all 1x Advanced voice in the 1865-1870 block and have a contiguous 20MHz data block between 1895-1915Mhz. I know that carrier aggregation will allow them to virtually consolidate their spectrum holdings, but you can avoid intermediate guard bands.

Sprint probably have crunched out the numbers to see if they can save money on roaming vs the expense of rolling out a network. From what I understand, last year they paid out $1B in roaming costs. That is a lot of mullah! I'm sure they're doing due diligence and cost/benefit analysis on where and when to save roaming money.

 

The other thing they need to worry about is roaming agreements with Alltel/Verizon expiring in 2016. Are they going to be signing up for data roaming as well as voice? What band?

Sprint network expansion?

Now that sounds crazy. I guess we would just hear more has NV progress. Maybe if NV goes well, they might look at a NV-extended plan for network expansion in areas and states they don't offer native service.

Sprint probably have crunched out the numbers to see if they can save money on roaming vs the expense of rolling out a network. From what I understand, last year they paid out $1B in roaming costs. That is a lot of mullah! I'm sure they're doing due diligence and cost/benefit analysis on where and when to save roaming money.

On the flip side we have endured the sprint network we deserve some concessions .

I'm still a fan of their customer service. They have always been fair, listened, and helped when they could.

I have been with sprint (actually sprint spectrum llc) since 1989. I did a brief stint with cellular one before that and used pay phones on the street.

I haven't rooted my phones so I could have a broadband connection when other folks have. Call it what you want its cheating. Wimax made pretty good sense on paper, I plunked my cash down on two phones and $20/mth since then. (BS its a smart phone charge!). So I paid for a service that is very limited for the 'mobile' customer. So as I see it Sprint did not live up to the hype of wimax. They have the opportunity to earn my business everyday. I'm not entitled by any means. But if I give them the opportunity to meet my needs they are obligated to listen. It's my job to make it a good business decision for them to meet my needs.

Wimax, somebody had to know high frequency would not pentrate and handshaking between towers was questionable. That reflects back to the Sprint Management team. Sorry no points for not testing technology.

Oh, they knew exactly what WiMax on 2500MHz could do. They had to deploy something to at least 50M people on that spectrum by the end of 2008 or 2009. The only technology back in 2006/2007 was Wimax. Sprint really did not have the money to deploy so they partnered with the cable cos and Intel/Google and Clearwire. Clearwire, unfortunately went hogwild deploying it in places that are very hard to cover (spread out) and where Sprint had no problems with 3G spectrum. I think that Sprint would have liked for them to cover a few cities very well instead of covering more cities not very effectively. Clearwire refused to cooperate with Sprint, choosing not to colocate and did everything in their power to turn-off their largest (only) customer. I think that Sprint will eventually like to acquire Clearwire, but they don't see to be in any hurry.

Can you see a new deal with MetroPCS and Leap Wireless merging together after it failed several years ago?

 

http://leapwireless....3383&item=20731

http://leapwireless....3383&item=20726

Both of them are for sale. Sprint almost acquired MetroPCS. The time to have merged was couple of years ago. Now if USCC, Metro and Leap/Cricket as well as CSpire and some smaller regionals were to merge, they might be viable.

My bet is that by the end of this year, neither Metro nor Cricket will be around.

where did you hear that from?

It's been floating around the Cricket indirect dealers network. Could be hot air. Cricket stock has lost 2/3 of its value since last year and that's with it bandied around as an acquisition target. Something is going on with Cricket finances, but unless I dig deep down, I can't tell at first glance.

If Sprint had any money they could have bribed Qualcomm to include WiMax functionality on one of their Gobi chips. As it is, Sprint couldn't afford it. HTC could include a separate Wimax chip, nothing stopping them.

Hearing some rumors that Cricket is short on cash and will not be able to make its roaming payment to Sprint. Is that an added impetus for Sprint to put them out of their misery?

If they include all the LTE bands in the iPhone 5, then they have no reason to overcharge everyone again in 6 months when they release the iPhone 5s, which will include all LTE bands. Follow the money.

How about follow the release of Qualcomm chipsets with 800MHz LTE as well as 2500MHz TD/LTE. Unless Apple starts making their own baseband chips, they are slaves to Qualcomm's schedule. Even then, they also tend to stick to their 12 month upgrade schedule.

Despite Deutsche Telekom's assurances to the contrary, I still think that they may be a player for MetroPCS and at&t may very well gobble up Leap; both before Sprint is in a position to make a move. C-Spire (nee CellSouth) makes sense IMO and if USCC and/or ATNI both continue their downward spirals, they may both be looking for a way out too.

T-Mobile will definitely be a player for Metro. I don't think that AT&T will be a player for anything but Verizon's 700MHz A&B and AWS divestments. Cspire Wireless definitely will be in play and so will USCC. USCC might go to one of the big two.

I concur. I just wonder who the most likeliest suspects will be when that time comes...

 

Sent from my Mean Evo 3D using Tapatalk 2!

The usual suspects, Leap and Metro. I would throw in CellSouth. I'm almost certain that the FCC and DOJ would like to have 4 nationwide providers so T-Mobile is out.

Do you think that with the next iPhone almost certainly having LTE we will see both bands for Sprint LTE ie: including 800 band. If not there will really be no point until iPhone 5s?

It depends on whether the chipset that the iPhone will be using will include the band or not. Something tells me that it won't. Sprint won't deploy 800Mhz LTE until the second half of 2013. So I would be very surprised if Qualcomm/Apple/Sprint actually included it in the 5. On the other hand, I expect them to include 800Mhz 1x Advanced and 1900Mhz LTE.

The two 800 LTE FIT's will start this Fall. Devices that include 800 LTE support are currently scheduled to start hitting the market 2Q-2013, with 800 LTE sites currently scheduled to start coming online 2nd Half 2013. I think they will start deploying 800 LTE with NV deployments in progress after the successful conclusions of the FIT's.

 

Robert

Yep, that's what I thought, second half of 2013 for 800MHz LTE. I'm very happy Sprint is actually executing. Their stock should pick up later on this year/beginning of 2013. I expect them to start looking for acquisitions as soon as the stock recovers.

But they're still turning on 800 mHz service in available locations right? Such as the Chicago market?

CDMA 1x only I would think until June 30th, 2013. They also need to get chipsets with 800Mhz LTE on them, etc. They could have the hardware installed on the basestations installed earlier than that though just not turn them on until after that date.

I haven't seen anybody with an IDEN handset in couple of years. I'm sure they exist .

true, but people also don't want to wait a year+ for an iphone refresh either.

If by people you mean phone geeks like you and I, yes you're right! Regular people don't care and they certainly don't open up new lines on their accts just to get the latest and greatest handset.

What's the deal with shoddy Android phone quality and Android phones basically released as betas? The EVO 4g LTE purportedly has reboot, WIFI, 3G and bluetooth issues. Reminds me of the Nexus S, the Galaxy Nexus, the LG G2x, the Galaxy S II, the Motorola Photon, and the Droid X. Each of those phones had issues either with reboots, and/or wifi and cellular connectivity.

It might have something to do with the need to differentiate one's self from all the other manufacturers using the same platform. I do believe they need to slow down the torrent of handset releases to test each handset more thoroughly. This business of a handset/month has to stop to allow for more thorough testing.

To bring some greater clarity to the SMR 900 MHz discussion, I have cooked up another of my famous graphs.

 

 

Note the interleaved nature of the SMR blocks; B/ILT blocks occupy the channels in between. At the very least, this is why Sprint cannot currently utilize its SMR 900 MHz holdings for CDMA1X or LTE.

 

AJ

It might be my faulty memory, but I seem to recall that there was a lot of speculative buying of 900MHz B/ILT spectrum speculating that Sprint/Nextel would be forced to buy them out.

That will never happen -- at least, not anytime soon. Such would displace some public safety users a second time. Not to mention, it would not make a whit of difference in the Southeast, as SouthernLINC occupies the Guard band, Expansion band, and part of the B/ILT non cellular band.

 

Sprint is just going to have to be satisfied that it finally has any <1 GHz spectrum for CDMA1X and LTE.

 

AJ

You're right AJ! I bit of wishful thinking on my part. On the other hand I never understood why they did not move PS down to the 700MHz PS band that is right below the 800Mhz PS band.

Is getting 900MHz untangled possible or is it just not worth the effort? If after the iDEN shutdown Sprint has no other way to possibly use this spectrum, maybe they'll just sell it?

I'm hoping that they somehow or another convince the ILM customers in the 800SMR band to move to the 900 Band then move down into the 800MHz guard and expansion band and another 1MHz below that. That way they'll end up with 10+10Mhz in the 800MHz band.