[marioc21]

Sprint will deploy LTE-Advanced in the first half of 2013

CHICAGO--Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) will deploy LTE-Advanced technology on its 800 MHz spectrum by the first half of 2013, a key executive said. Speaking at a breakfast meeting at the 4G World conference here, Sprint's vice president of network development and engineering, Iyad Tarazi, said that the company will deploy LTE-Advanced Release 10 in a 10x10 configuration by the first half of 2013. The company estimates that with LTE-Advanced it will be able to achieve 12-15 Mbps download speeds.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/...013/2011-10-25

[marioc21]

Here's the story in full:

Sprint will deploy LTE-Advanced in the first half of 2013

October 25, 2011 — 10:58am ET | By Sue Marek

CHICAGO--Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) will deploy LTE-Advanced technology on its 800 MHz spectrum by the first half of 2013, a key executive said. Speaking at a breakfast meeting at the 4G World conference here, Sprint's vice president of network development and engineering, Iyad Tarazi, said that the company will deploy LTE-Advanced Release 10 in a 10x10 configuration by the first half of 2013. The company estimates that with LTE-Advanced it will be able to achieve 12-15 Mbps download speeds.

Tarazi also provided additional details on the company's extensive Network Vision upgrade, which will include the deployment of LTE using the company's 1900 MHz spectrum with a planned commercial launch of LTE by mid-2012. The company plans to have 250 million to 277 million POPs covered with LTE by the end of 2013. At that point, Tarazi said the company will have a bigger LTE footprint than its existing CDMA network.

Sign up for our FREE newsletter for more news like this sent to your inbox!

Tarazi said that the company plans to launch at least 12 LTE devices next year and although Sprint will initially offer voice service over its CDMA 1X network and data over its LTE network, it will eventually migrate to Voice over LTE. Tarazi said Sprint will launch VoLTE devices in the first quarter of 2013.

Interestingly, Tarazi revealed that the company will end 2011 with about 20 percent of its traffic riding on Clearwire's (NASDAQ:CLWR) 4G WiMAX network, which Tarazi said Sprint Nextel will continue to support for many years because of its agreement with the wholesale provider. Clearwire has said it needs to raise between $150 million and $300 million for the maintenance of its existing WiMAX network and $600 million to begin deploying LTE-Advanced network technology.

Tarazi added that Sprint will continue to invest in its EV-DO network to support its existing 3G smartphone customers, including its new iPhone 4S subscribers. Part of that investment includes small cells. Tarazi said the company currently has more than 500,000 femtocells deployed and he expects that to grow to more than 1 million by the first half of 2013. In addition, he expects the company will deploy LTE picocells in 2012.

On the backhaul front, Tarazi said that the company currently uses Ethernet over leased fiber lines for its backhaul but is also deploying Ethernet microwave technology where leased lines are not available.



Read more: Sprint will deploy LTE-Advanced in the first half of 2013 - FierceWireless http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/...#ixzz1bomHmzlM
Subscribe: http://www.fiercewireless.com/signup...FierceWireless

[TheGame]

A couple of things...I didn't think Sprint had enough holdings in the 800 MHz band to deploy 10x10 there, and secondly, I'm hoping they're being conservative, because 12-15 seems a bit slow for LTE Advanced imo.

[Bam]

1 year too late

[Deval]

Originally Posted by Bam

1 year too late

As compared to who?

[Jonger1150]

You have to wonder how many of us with still frequent this site when Sprint has a smooth 1900/800 LTE network with good coverage. Right now this website is like a support group for Sprint customers suffering.

[Deval]

Originally Posted by Jonger1150

You have to wonder how many of us with still frequent this site when Sprint has a smooth 1900/800 LTE network with good coverage. Right now this website is like a support group for Sprint customers suffering.

Is it? I thought it was more of non-sprint users telling others how bad Sprint is? I've been on here for 11 years now, and I've seen the changes.

[jbjtkbw00]

Originally Posted by Deval

Is it? I thought it was more of non-sprint users telling others how bad Sprint is? I've been on here for 11 years now, and I've seen the changes.

Yes you have. You're one of the members that I rememeber way back from when I was originally on Sprint back in the day. There have been MANY changes and will continue to be.

[Deval]

Originally Posted by jbjtkbw00

Yes you have. You're one of the members that I rememeber way back from when I was originally on Sprint back in the day. There have been MANY changes and will continue to be.

Yep, I still have faith in the company...I've seen all the chaos first hand, and things are a lot better now.

[marioc21]

Saw this today which indicates that Sprint will be deploing LTE advanced capable equipment from the get go as part of Network Vision. They simply won't be switching on advanced until 2013. Makes sense to get the equipment up when you're upgrading the towers already.

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=213958&

Sprint's Move to Advance Its Network Vision

CHICAGO -- 4G World 2011 -- "It just made sense."

That's how Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S)'s Iyad Tarazi, VP of network development and engineering, characterized the operator's decision to implement LTE-Advanced as part of its "Network Vision" infrastructure, when he spoke with Light Reading Mobile here on Wednesday evening in Chicago. (See Sprint Plans LTE-Advanced Launch in 2013.)

His point was that Release 10 of 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) LTE standard is largely complete, so it makes sense to deploy radios that can support multi-antenna devices and the software for interference and collision detection in the new specification. Basically, Sprint wants to avoid extra truck rolls if at all possible, since that all adds up money-wise.

[nazzo]

12-15 Mbps, is that all? I thought VZN had better speeds then that on regular LTE, am I mistaken? Because, dang, that isn't something to hold out for then.

[Jonger1150]

Originally Posted by nazzo

12-15 Mbps, is that all? I thought VZN had better speeds then that on regular LTE, am I mistaken? Because, dang, that isn't something to hold out for then.

Verizon LTE devices frequently hit 25mbps still. I hit 24 today on mine. Phones rarely break 12mbps.

Sprint saying 12-15 is a good conservative call, but for LTE advanced its kinda lowballed.

[Deval]

Originally Posted by Jonger1150

Verizon LTE devices frequently hit 25mbps still. I hit 24 today on mine. Phones rarely break 12mbps.

Sprint saying 12-15 is a good conservative call, but for LTE advanced its kinda lowballed.

Probably better to be low-ball than have a bunch of cry babies complain when they don't see the 50mbps, don't you think?

[Evan702]

They're likely just being conservative. Remember, VZW advertises their LTE network at "only" 5-12Mbps.

[nmherron]

Originally Posted by nazzo

12-15 Mbps, is that all? I thought VZN had better speeds then that on regular LTE, am I mistaken? Because, dang, that isn't something to hold out for then.

Those are advertised speeds. Verizon adveritises LTE speeds of 5 to 12 MB (if memory serves). Obviously people have speed test well beyond 12 MB on Verizon LTE. I'm guessing Sprint's LTE Advanced with 2 bonded 5x5 carriers will perform probably equal, or only slightly better than Verizon's Non advanced LTE. But its an impressive technological feat for Sprint considering Sprint will be doing it with two separate carriers in different bands!

But performance wise, 99% of users won't care about the details. Just how fast is it?

The thing Sprint might do that will blow Verizon's LTE out of the water is if it works out a deal with Clearwire (which talks are back on again). Clearwire has the capability with 20MHz TD-LTE carriers to have speeds around 50MB.

When you consider long term, the potential for Sprint's network is awesome. How Dan Hesse plays the Clearwire card is going to determine the future for Sprint.