At Sprint’s Strategy Event today, plans were announced to convert the carriers CDMA 19900 MHz spectrum to LTE. Awaiting a nod from the FCC, this switch will also include making use of LightSquared’s 1600 MHz spectrum. The first wave of LTE markets and devices (hopefully including BBX BlackBerry SuperPhones) will quickly roll out sometime in mid-2012 and a complete implementation by 2013. They plan to provide 176 million people with coverage from both WiMAX and LTE by the end of 2012; and an expected 250 million people covered under LTE sometime in 2013. Sprint’s Direct Connect, 3G and 4GLTE networks will be combined into a single architecture (their Direct Connect service is replacing their stagnant, obsolete iDen service).
This is an aggressive undertaking that will see both CDMA and WiMAX eventually shuffle off into the night. With this complete conversion, Sprint is going to need devices to support LTE. Could we see an LTE supporting BBX BlackBerry SuperPhone at the time of launch? A couple of weeks ago, Kevin made mention of the L3; an internally named full touchscreen BBX BlackBerry SuperPhone. Wouldn't it be pretty convenient to see it at the front line for the LTE launch? I hope so because I certainly don't see one in the image above!
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Sprint will start their LTE roll out in mid-2012
If they're going to keep unlimited data along with this, I might actually pull the trigger on forking out for a monthly phone.
I wonder how, if, or when their data plans will change as they rollout LTE. Their selling point is their unlimited data, but that'll be hard to keep fulfilling as these networks get bigger and faster.
If they're going to keep unlimited data along with this, I might actually pull the trigger on dishing out the moola for a monthly phone.
I hope to be rid of Sprint by then. Their customer service is the worst I've experienced and their coverage is only good in large cities. You get what you pay for and that's true with wireless providers.
And I'm sure that this will go just as well as the Nextel acquisition/integration did! Tired of the slow ass CDMA network and increased prices for no better service. Switching to T-Mobile Monday, maybe in two years I'll be back if they can actually execute on this plan. New customers are treated better than 10 year customers anyway. Sounds like things will be even more of a CF over the next couple years with all the spectrum adjustments.
I agree about how Sprint treats longtime customers.
i also agree. got letter other day, phasing out sprint premiere. and i have to pay full price for new phone.
Interesting......This might delay the competition from bringing out their better phones until LTE is available across the board on all carriers.
Not that it is different than any other phone/network out there, but I like this from sprint....
Here ya go...a nice shiny new iPhone 4s from Sprint.......but it won't work on LTE next year.
Have you actually seen how many cities have true LTE? For ATT, maybe 5 cities. At present, its all smoke and mirrors.
I hope Sprint is not tied in completely to Lightsquared. And, I hope Lightsquareds LTE is not approved. What a mess its going to make of the GPS reception.
A bigger if is will the Pentagon allow Lightsquared.