Sprint to roll out LTE-Advanced network by mid-2013

By on Oct 26, 2011 at 1:59 AM
mobile October 26, 2011

Speaking during the 4G World conference in Chicago on Tuesday, Sprint’s vice president of network development and engineering Iyad Tarazi confirmed that Sprint will begin to roll-out a 4G LTE-Advanced network in its 800MHz frequency spectrum by the middle of 2013. LTE-Advanced offers faster data throughput than the first generation of LTE, among other enhancements, and Tarazi explained that Sprint’s LTE-Advanced network should offer download speeds between 12-15Mbps. During its Strategy Update meeting in October, Sprint confirmed that it will begin to roll out its first 4G LTE network in mid-2012 with completion scheduled by the end of 2013. The initial LTE network will be deployed on Sprint’s 1900Mhz frequency spectrum and the first round of LTE devices will still route voice calls over its CDMA network. The first voice-over-LTE devices will arrive during the first quarter of 2013, Fierce Wireless said. Tarazi also noted that Sprint will offer at least a dozen LTE devices next year.

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  • Anonymous

    And yet, still no innovation for batteries to handle this new energy hogging network advancement.

  • LexDude

    Sprint is a huge disappointment. Have been loyal customer for over 10 years, but selling me a Samsung Epic 4g with no intention to actually build a 4g network for the phone to work on is just the last straw. Can’t wait to move to Verizon.

    • KCRic

      What the hell are you talking about. The Epic 4G Touch is a WiMax phone. They can’t put an LTE chip in it for a network they don’t have the exact specifications for yet. What’s this ‘no intention’ ramble? This is at least the second article on this site about Sprint saying they’ll be rolling out LTE by mid 2013 but they’re going to start rolling it out in 2012. 

      • Bullet Tooth Tony

        Maybe try reading next time instead of being an insufferable Sprint apologist.  It’s quite simply laid out in his post… they are guilty of “selling [him] a Samsung Epic 4g with no intention to actually build a 4g network for the phone to work on”… I think he’s well aware that the Epic 4g is a WiMax phone… and since Sprint has no intention to actually build a WiMax network anymore, and haven’t for over a year…. well, it’s quite easy to say he’s telling the truth and not talking about LTE in any way, shape, or form.

    • Anonymous

      If you think that Verizon is a better company to deal with just Google “Verizon fined by FCC”.

    • Wirelessmodz

      your a moron lex .you got  a wimax phone you are on what sprint calls 4g dipshet just because you phone wont work on the new lte doesnt mean a dam thing . by the time it rolls out you will need a new phone any how its going to be 2 years from now . you should stick to what ever you do and stop bitching

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Jan/100000215052381 Dan Jan

        That’s simply complete and utter BS and total “Occupy Wall Street” garbage talk.  WHY does he NEED to update his phone?  Unless he wants a new phone or his old phone is broken, there is no NEED to upgrade the phone.  Heck, I’ve had my Nextel i90c for almost 8 years with little to no problems, and no real NEED to upgrade.  Would I LIKE to?  Sure.   Do I NEED to?  Absolutely NOT!

        Claiming that he NEEDS a new phone is stupid and short sighted…and it assumes that EVERYONE should upgrade their phones every 2 years.  That’s stupid.  That’s like saying that because the Sony PS3 technically has better hardware compared to the Xbox 360, that all 360 owners should dump their “old” Xbox 360 and “upgrade” to the Sony PS3.  Now do you see how stupid that sounds?!?  Heck, I’m a PS3 owner, and I wouldn’t tell someone with an Xbox 360 would dump it…it’s still a great system!  The same is true of the Samsung Epic 4G.  Sprint advertised both the Epic 4G and HTC’s EVO 3G as phones that would allow their users to enjoy a true “4G” experience.  The implication was that Sprint would actually build out a compatible 4G (aka WiMAX) network (or at least make sure Clearwire did).  Instead, they sold almost everyone who bought a phone with “WiMAX capability” a bill of goods…aka they sold the sizzle but had NO INTENTION of giving them the steak.  In fact, this could end up causing people who purchased any of the current WiMAX 4G phones a reason to bring about a lawsuit against Sprint.  After all, Sprint promised them a 4G network, but it has yet to deliver…and now, it won’t deliver such a network that their phones will be compatible with.

        The bottom line is this:  Sprint sucks.  BTW, Verizon’s already offering consistent 10Mb/s on their regular LTE network.  Do we really think that when Verizon upgrades to LTE-Advanced that they won’t be able to offer 20Mb/s or better?  Sprint’s 12-15Mb/s seems seriously low.  And given how few customers they’ll have for LTE since they’ve been ticking off most of the early “4G” adopters…heck…it really won’t matter.  Why?  Because the company will go bankrupt by 2015.  Mark it!

    • http://www.facebook.com/DIVCorp Corey Fisher

      I see this often from people mostly out of the loop… 4G Wimax was not really Sprint’s network, it’s owned and operated by Clearwire, and they have gone broke. That’s why Wimax has stopped being built out. I think Sprint having a full blown LTE-Advanced network by mid 2013 is pretty awesome news IMO, in fact, it’s one of the best decisions the company has ever made if you ask me and it looks like they are willing to make it up for customer. (Unlike Verizon and AT&T who will tell you to just get a new phone, i.e. T-Mobile merger?), I heard Sprint is selling the new Sprint DC phones to the Nextel loyal for a .01 cent a piece for companies. That seams like a pretty simple and easy migration to me. Plus, your Samsung Epic 4G will be on it’s way to the tombs here shortly… just gew a new LTE device when you upgrade next year… simple. I think it’s pretty moronic to go Verizon, you’ll get charged twice as much and by 2013, Sprint looks to have nationwide 4G LTE coverage just like Verizon and you’ll probably pay a lot less with Sprint.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Jan/100000215052381 Dan Jan

        You obviously forgot that 1/2 the network that Sprint 4G WiMAX users utilize their 4G connectivity on actually IS a Sprint-built 4G network?  Yes, Sprint does allow for roaming onto Clearwire’s network; however, in places like Dallas, Chicago, Norfolk, Baltimore and others, Sprint actually built out that 4G WiMAX network. 

        Secondly, Sprint is doing NO SUCH THING for us Nextel customers.  They are in fact charging us the same price as any “new” customer.  Heck, they won’t even waive the activation fee!  Your support for Sprint is pathetic.

        At least Verizon won’t force anyone into adopting a NEW technology.  Sprint is simply schizophrenic.  One minute Nextel is great…the next, Nextel caused all of our problems that we’re experiencing today (even  though those same problems existed PRIOR to the merger).  Then they were launching Q-chat, but now that they shut off Q-chat, the “new” PTT over CDMA is going to cause us Nextel iDEN PTT users to swoon (won’t happen).  Finally, Sprint was launching WiMAX, now they’re launching LTE-Advanced. 

        Trust me…take off your “Sprint can do no wrong” rose colored glasses and look at reality.  Verizon from day one has had the same vision: to create a bullet-proof network.  Verizon is doing exactly that.  After all, the “Can you hear me now?” campaign helped it do just that…create the largest network where your phone WILL work.  And if they couldn’t build it, they bought out a compatible company to add to the network’s coverage.  Sprint, instead, simply sits on its hands and complains about other companies doing so (aka AT&T buying out T-Mobile).  Sprint is junk, and always will be junk  That’s why they lost 13M Nextel subscribers to Verizon and AT&T.  Remember, if Sprint was SOOOOOOOOO great, then why didn’t those Nextel iDEN users simply convert to Sprint CDMA?  It’s not like Verizon or AT&T offered a “better” PTT solution, nor a “faster” network…maybe instead they offered something Sprint refuses to offer: real coverage for a respectable price.  Yes, AT&T and Verizon are expensive relative to Sprint…but you do get what you pay for.  And that’s why…

        The bottom line is this:  Sprint will go bankrupt by 2015!  Mark it!

  • IAM GREATNESS

    Yeah, so now they’ll only be like 3 years behind verizon’s LTE.

    • Anonymous

      Yes, if you believe Verizon’s marketing department. Verizon is misleading the public into thinking they’re getting access to an advanced 4G network. Although their next generation wireless network is somewhat faster than the current 3G options, it stills fall considerably short of the universal standards for 4G. Verizon killed their unlimited data plans too, so all those movies, TV shows and sporting events you plan on watching on your “not really 4G” device is going to cost you plenty.  Plus the speed you get now may not be the speed you get a year from now. As more  users get on their network, it creates more traffic that will slow down your speeds. Is it worth it to pay that much more for something that might be faster than what you can get from Sprint for less money? I don’t think it is.

      • Bullet Tooth Tony

        There are no universal standards for 4G… IMT-Advanced has standards, and IMT-Advanced is considered 4G… 4G itself was undefined, and the ITU conceded this *last year* and gave HSPA+, LTE and WiMax the monikers of 4G since they offer a substantial improvement over the initial, and standardized, 3G technologies.

        This is not marketing.  This is what the ITU has done.  Google it.  And try to keep up with what happened last year in the future.  There’s also no “mights” about it… Sprint has *the slowest* network in the country, it had it before, and it’s even worse now with the iPhone on it.  Yes, it is worth 5 dollars a month more for better service and speed for AT&T.  And yes, it is worth 10 dollars more a month for even faster speeds on Verizon.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Jan/100000215052381 Dan Jan

        Bullet Tooth Tony:  I couldn’t have said it better myself.

        To everyone else: If Sprint actually upgraded the Nextel iDEN network to a 3G solution that Motorola offers (as NII Holdings is doing in South America already), then they would have NEVER lost a single iDEN subscriber (instead they lost 13M and counting).  It’s about speed!  Nextel PTT is lightning fast (do a side by side comparison…you’ll see that even compared to today’s so called “Sprint Direct Connect” solution).  It’s not about “Power”…it’s not about the iPhone…it’s about REAL speed!  Sprint’s CDMA has no speed (compared to AT&T’s GSM and Verizon’s CDMA).  iDEN at least has stellar PTT speed.  WiMAX might as well not exist since it’s in so few cities (and since speeds on WiMAX are mostly laughable anyway).  Heck, even lowly T-Mobile has surpassed Sprint in terms of 3G speed.  And NII Holdings in Peru is claiming real 3G speeds there, delivering consistently 3Mb/s down, 1Mb/s up.  That’s on what most would call an “ANCIENT” iDEN network!

        Trust me…Sprint is all talk, and very little, if any, action.  Don’t believe me?  Where is their iDEN investment that they promised?  Never happened.  What about their Global One venture?  It died before it got off the ground despite all the money the company poured into it.  Q-chat?  History…and a money pit failure.  WiMAX?  Seriously…how laughable that is!  LTE?  I’ll believe it when I see it.

        Sprint will go bankrupt by 2015!  Mark it!

  • AM

    Sprint will be dead in 5 years.  They just can’t seem to get it right.  First they bought Nextel, that was a waste of money, then they went with Wimax over LTE, another waste of money, and now they will release LTE a little less than a year from now.  Do you really see them surviving that long? Just saying.

    • SuperWho

      Well, hate to break it to you, but when Sprint rolled out WiMax LTE was still in testing, and was not proven. WiMax could have justa easily been the standerd, just happened that in this case LTE won out. Sort of a bluray vs. HDDVD thing. That’s the rust you take as an early adaptor.

      • SuperWho

        Whoops…dang auto correct, that’s the “risk” you take.

      • KCRic

        Finally, someone with a shred of intelligence on here. T-Mobile and Verizon were both behind AT&T for the longest time during the 3G rush. Also during the voice/text only days. Oh how soon we forget….

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Jan/100000215052381 Dan Jan

        True…but T-Mobile is no where near as pathetic as Sprint.

    • Justin Peterson

      Sprint bough Nextel for it 800 Mhz spectrum – the one that they now will use to build out the LTE-Advanced network on.  If you look at the billions that AT&T and Verizon spent on the 700 Mhz spectrum and the 39 Billion AT&T is willing to spend to aquire T-mobiles 1700 Mhz spectrum on top of the money spent for the 700 Mhz it looks like Sprint got a decent deal.  (they paid roughly 36 Billion for Nextel)  When it comes to the long term health of a telecom company Spectrum is Vital.

  • http://twitter.com/ggore Glenn Gore

    First off, full disclosure:  I am a Sprint customer, and quite happy with their current 3G service.  Considering neither Verizon nor AT&T offer service where I live, I must be happy since that’s all there is except for a couple regional GSM carriers.

    So Sprint is going to launch LTE/4G in mid 2012 and have that network “complete” by the end of 2013.    Complete?  As in “nationwide”?   Covering their entire service area?    Really?  Wake me when that happens, NO carrier covers its entire licensed service area with ANY “G” version.  

    Then Sprint will deploy LTE-Advanced beginning in 2013.   I know that 800 Mhz spectrum is supposed to have 3-4 times the reach of traditional cellphone towers and therefore be very quick to launch and cover vast territory quickly, but to expect me to believe that a new technology is going to be deployed this fast is just a bit too much of a stretch. 

    • Anonymous

      Believe by cher

  • Anonymous

    The first faux 4g carrier, buy now looks to be the first”true”4g carrier good job sprint

    • Anonymous

      No carrier in has a true 4G network. So all of them lying. Don’t single out Spint.

      • Bullet Tooth Tony

        Every carrier has a 4G network.  Verizon has LTE, AT&T has HSPA+ and LTE, T-Mobile has HSPA+ and Sprint has WiMax.  They’re all 4G.  IMT-Advanced is also 4G… which is the term you’re looking for… none of those standards are IMT-Advanced.

      • Anonymous

        Lte advanced us true 4g… Sprint might indeed finally get that true 4g by 2013

  • Anonymous

    kind of makes no sense buying a 4g lte phone on sprint in mid 2012,when they’re going to have better lte phones coming out in the 1st half of 2013.

    • Deval

      By that logic, no point in buying a new car this year, next years model will have something different.

      At the end of the day, there will always be something better, later. It is up to the individual to make the leap when it’s right for them.

      I’d pick up an LTE phone in 2012, because by the time my upgrade rebate comes around, there will be something better than the 2013 version.

  • Anonymous

    I think we can all agree that LexDude is a moron.

  • Anonymous

    Sprint, you will be in the rear view mirror long before then!

  • TOMMMMMM

    Todd, it’s 12MB/s which is 96 Mbps, or true 4G. Please correct this as 12Mbps is even less than most current “4G” speeds.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Jan/100000215052381 Dan Jan

      Actually, NUMEROUS sites are claiming the same “12 Megabits! per second” speed.  And you’re right, 12Mb/s isn’t all that much faster (if at all) than what Verizon and T-Mobile are already offering for real world speeds…and that 12 number is THEORETICAL for now by Sprint. 

      However, perhaps these sites claiming the MegaBITS speed were wrong (as you indicate) and it really would be MegaBYTES!  If so, then 12MB/s would indeed be 96Mb/s…which would be seriously FAST!  But knowing Sprint, they’ll fail bringing their network up to 12Mb/s, let alone 12MB/s.

  • Anonymous

    How is 12-15 MB down advanced? My Droid Bionic on VZW is getting speeds like that all the time. A lot of hype and hot air. Lets see how slow they are to roll that out.

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