Telecom Lead America: Sprint will launch 4G in more than 100 additional cities in the coming months.
“We know our customers depend on their mobile devices as their primary source of communication, business connectivity and entertainment. We want to deliver a network that delivers mobile access, productivity and entertainment at a highly competitive price point,” said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint.
During the pre-launch phase itself, Sprint customers may be able to use the network. However, mobile users will experience actual 4G data speeds and quality after the official debut.
Sprint is planning to complete the nationwide rollout of new 3G and 4G network by the end of 2013.
Sprint, as part of its network strategy, is doing a complete overhaul of its 3G infrastructure to offer better wireless signal strength, in-building coverage, and fewer dropped/blocked calls.
Though Sprint was the first national wireless carrier to introduce 4G on the WiMAX network in 2008, it began rolling out 4G LTE to customers only on July 15 in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and surrounding cities.
Sprint is investing in 4G networks despite mounting losses. Sprint Nextel’s net loss increased to $1.4 billion in second quarter of from $847 million.
Meanwhile, Sprint reported wireless service revenues of $7.3 billion during the second quarter of 2012, up more than 8 percent year-over-year, driven primarily by Sprint platform postpaid ARPU growth of $4.31. Sprint platform postpaid net additions of 442,000 improved 68 percent sequentially driven by quarterly churn performance of 1.69 percent, a Nextel postpaid recapture rate of 60 percent and the continued strength of iPhone sales.
Apple iPhones and mobile broadband will be a good combination for telecom customers. In Q2, 2012, Sprint recorded nearly 1.5 million iPhone sales in the second quarter with 40 percent going to new postpaid customers.
editor@telecomlead.com
