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Sprint Killing Iden and Moving to LTE?

Recently read that sprint will be phasing out the iden network by 2013 and Dan Hesse Admitted Wimax was a failure and is considering the switch to LTE.
Could a switch to LTE ruin our 4Gness on our beloved Evos or would they still work?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/09/clearwire_sprint_wimax/
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Sprints-25-Billion-Network-Improvement-Plan-Hints-At-LTE-111703

Im just going out on a limb here but gonna throw my thoughts in on this . The phase out wont be till 2013 . With that being said most of us on the Evo will be well into a new phone by that time . General life span of phones (I said general) seems to be one year maybe two at most before someone jumps ship and gets another phone . I have also read that Wimax is an older technology that has been around for a while and the next logical jump would be LTE much like verizon is pushing . Now if for some reason you still have an Evo by the time the phase out is complete , I would suspect Sprint would either offer their customers an upgrade to work on the new network or atleast reduce the bills of the current evo owners still running an evo at that point . But from what I have seen and said in this post the likelyhood of any of us having the EVO in its current form by that time is very low . Its also possible the next gen of phones being released next year will start incorporating the LTE system (say for the sake of argument EVO2 LTE) to adjust to this change .

Wimax 2............ftw

Current wimax network can be easily switched to LTE via software upgrade that's why the current wimax buildout will continue. Also wimax is backwards compatible with wimax 2. So sprint has a couple ways it could go. And they own a lot of spectrum.
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Expect ptt over ip and not in the failed Qchat form. Most likely over 4G(wimax1,2 or LTE) data. Sprint has plenty option. They just have to play it right.
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david279 said:
Current wimax network can be easily switched to LTE via software upgrade that's why the current wimax buildout will continue. Also wimax is backwards compatible with wimax 2. So sprint has a couple ways it could go. And they own a lot of spectrum.
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So wimax and LTE hardware are compatible, interesting.

Sort of. It only takes a firmware update to switch.
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hmmmm...maybe wimax and lte along with cdma and gsm...world wide phone..anywhere. Maybe Sprint quad band phones with quad core cpus in next 5-10yrs? Quad band with quad core.."4x4" on 4G. ok..dream over...
Youd need a 12 volt battery too. lol

I read a while back that sprint chose WiMax as its "4g" provider because the infrastructure was already in place since clear had been launched. And that if LTE deemed a better route that the WiMax network could be patched relatively easily to run LTE. Im not worried about it. If sprint was the first company to have 4g im pretty sure they wont leave their current WiMax customers without high speed service if Wimax is pulled off the market. But remeber as well that the article specifies Iden which is nextel. Thats a conpletely different animal. Only time will tell.
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nebenezer said:
So wimax and LTE hardware are compatible, interesting.
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No. The transmitters use a WiMax card to transmit WiMax signal. All they would have to do on their end is swap the cards in the transmitters for LTE cards and then patch the software to interface with them instead of WiMax cards.
The bad news is that for us Evo and Epic (and Overdrive) owners, we won't get LTE with current hardware. And I know they'll use the "early adopter" excuse. Either way, I love my Evo, 4G or not. I hardly use 4G. I just hope they do the right thing and offer people money back or towards an upgrade. WiMax is fast, but isn't that great to begin with. I'd rather have LTE seeing as how it's becoming an international standard. The only thing I don't like is the cluttered frequency. Verizon and AT&T will both be using 700 MHz.

david279 said:
Current wimax network can be easily switched to LTE via software upgrade that's why the current wimax buildout will continue. Also wimax is backwards compatible with wimax 2. So sprint has a couple ways it could go. And they own a lot of spectrum.
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Thats good the two technologies are that compatible, I didn't know they could be used like that. You're right about Sprint having the Spectrum for it too. My guess is they tried getting rid of IDEN a few years back to use that spectrum for 4G but couldn't because of all the people still using it. The higher frequency WiMax is at now is what's holding it back.

They're compatible from the transmitter's end, not the receiver's end (our phones).

Product F(RED) said:
They're compatible from the transmitter's end, not the receiver's end (our phones).
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That's the only problem. If sprint goes with wimax 2 well be alright though. Early adopters always the test dummys.
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Yeah, that's true but I still think the Evo is the best Android phone out. Maybe not the most powerful, but the most polished and well-built (software and hardware-wise).

Product F(RED) said:
Yeah, that's true but I still think the Evo is the best Android phone out. Maybe not the most powerful, but the most polished and well-built (software and hardware-wise).
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This is true until the G2 came out. That would be the only phone I would leave sprint for. I think the problem that came about with the Evo was it was rushed out for sprint. They could have cleaned up a bunch of problems before it even hit the street. **off soapbox**
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Product F(RED) said:
They're compatible from the transmitter's end, not the receiver's end (our phones).
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As long as they don't switch frequencies, then they will need to transmitters as well. Although they could probably leave the infrastructure they already have in place and finish the rest of it on the other frequency.

No, what I mean was that LTE and WiMax are not intercompatible in themselves.

Im glad to see that they can switch between wimax and LTE easily. I did not know that. Hopefully all the companies will have a roaming agreement in place. Also, isnt the range of LTE further than Wimax or is it the other way around?

Product F(RED) said:
No. The transmitters use a WiMax card to transmit WiMax signal. All they would have to do on their end is swap the cards in the transmitters for LTE cards and then patch the software to interface with them instead of WiMax cards.
The bad news is that for us Evo and Epic (and Overdrive) owners, we won't get LTE with current hardware. And I know they'll use the "early adopter" excuse. Either way, I love my Evo, 4G or not. I hardly use 4G. I just hope they do the right thing and offer people money back or towards an upgrade. WiMax is fast, but isn't that great to begin with. I'd rather have LTE seeing as how it's becoming an international standard. The only thing I don't like is the cluttered frequency. Verizon and AT&T will both be using 700 MHz.
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By the time any switch happens, both the Evo and Epic will be very outdated. Not to many people will still have them. lol

wimax and lte
My best friend worked for sprint. Now works for AT&T. Wimax is not the problem. LTE is a different technology. What you have to understand is not the sofware but the signal. The Wimax from Sprint is running between 2.0 and 2.5 ghz. The problem with this is the structure penetration. 2.4ghz, if you remember is what older home cordless phones run on. Get to far away and, bam, no signal. Sprint could switch to the LTE format the the carrier frequency in the 2.0 to 2.5ghz spectrum will still not be able to penetrate structures well. My friend says the spectrum needs to be cleared up. vhf uhf tv. WTF. Get rid of them. You need to be at the 650mhz spectrum (his personal choice) so the the wavelength of the carrier wave will be able to penetrate building/structures. And pagers? Are you kidding me all phones double as a pager. Dump them. A doctor is going to get a page and use his cell phone to call in? waste of spectrum. So sprint needs to change the carrier frequency of wimax or lte (if it changes its mind) so that you can get your service indoors. The carrier frequency only is a delivery system(such as a semi truck delivering a tv). If you have a bad truck, tv does not get delivered. Know what I mean. All carriers need some free up of current spectrum so we can get some real penetration and better bars. I hate being a nerd. But WFT. Get a divorce and get an new life.
Cole

Clear bullish on LTE trial results, says WiMAX is 'best for the customer' right now

Clearwire's talking more about some of the glorious numbers it's seeing as it drives around the greater Phoenix area testing its trial LTE network, and we think one specific quote pretty much sums it up: "this isn't your grandfather's LTE." That statement was made in comparing Clearwire's results -- bumping up against 90Mbps in some configurations -- to the 5 to 12Mbps that Verizon is quoting for its first-gen commercial LTE network, though they're quick to note in the same breath that Clear's test is on an unloaded network without a deluge of users all trying to stream professional sports games in HD at the same time. What does that all mean for Clear's existing WiMAX deployment? The company's as noncommittal on the subject as ever, saying only that WiMAX continues to be "best for the customer" today but that "potentially in the future that could be WiMAX and LTE." Needless to say, though, they're taking the LTE option pretty seriously if they're dumping serious cash into testing it out and publishing the results. Follow the break for Clear's teaser footage -- wouldn't you like access to this action?
Taken from
http://m.engadget.com/default/artic...for-the/&category=classic&icid=eng_latest_art

I watched this video. If this is the future of clear....its bright. And they have enough spectrum for it. 89 MB Down in a car.
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http://www.clear.com/blog/size-matters/
Clear trials..
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LTE and WiMAX are both good protocols but it's the spectrum that is hurting wimax at the moment. If the FCC would open up VHF or UHF to them then either would be so fast that speed would be a non issue.

I would like to know how Sprint is going to respond to the concerns of their new subscribers. I'm sure that people who bought in to the Wimax 4G movement are concerned about the pricey phones that are sure to lack in capability when the next generation of 4G hits Sprint. Sprint has definitely made bad choices in business and this could be the next big blunder.

Sprint's problem isn't LTE or WiMax, both are very similar technologies. Sprint is deploying 4G on a very high frequency, 2.5GHz I believe, which means that building penetration will be a problem. Verizon has 700mhz spectrum, which is much better at building penetration regardless of whether it's used with LTE or WiMax.

alex2792 said:
Sprint's problem isn't LTE or WiMax, both are very similar technologies. Sprint is deploying 4G on a very high frequency, 2.5GHz I believe, which means that building penetration will be a problem. Verizon has 700mhz spectrum, which is much better at building penetration regardless of whether it's used with LTE or WiMax.
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WiMax isn't a problem per se but it definitely isn't as good of a mobile phone solution as LTE is.
Re: Spectrum - Sprint is discontinuing their IDEN network which runs on the 800 MHz band. That opens up some possibilities for Sprint and LTE.

i sure hope sprint has a good fair solution for their current 4G clients that have spent good $$ for their hardware.
Maybe that is why they have been making us pay the $10fee a month.. this help pay for the next gen phone ... they will have to give to us. ok ok ok.. i can dream!

Will 3G become faster as more people jump to 4G?

Just a question I was wondering as I read reviews on the Thunderbolt, a point was made about how speedy Verizon's LTE network was but they said speeds would fluctuate as more people got the service available in their area and more 4G eligible phones were running.
So that leaves me to this, as more people start the shift to "4G" in whatever form the carriers want to call it, will the carrier's 3G networks see an increase even if minor in speed as less people will be using the 3G services?
This is in mind of people like me who will not see a 4G phone anytime soon for whatever reason, contract not even close, 4G not available, etc.

i am on 3g and i get about 4.50 mbps some time even 5 mbps that is after 12:00 am day time is not that bad and i think it will get better then this

This depends on how many people are going to switch and how conjested the tower was to begin with.
If you aren't being throttled (ATT anyway), I get around 3 down and 1 up here in Tallahassee.
In large cities where there are a lot of people on single towers or in buildings and wwhatnot, those signals are going to be a lot less.
If a LOT of people switched to LTE, we might see some change, but it is probably going to be a while.
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FLAC Vest said:
This depends on how many people are going to switch and how conjested the tower was to begin with.
If you aren't being throttled (ATT anyway), I get around 3 down and 1 up here in Tallahassee.
In large cities where there are a lot of people on single towers or in buildings and wwhatnot, those signals are going to be a lot less.
If a LOT of people switched to LTE, we might see some change, but it is probably going to be a while.
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Well at one point, my 3G was faster but now it seems slow, maybe I'm just too used to Wifi but I'm pretty sure I'm not being throttled, I never hit the 5GB soft cap.

I get 5.5 down and 2-2.5 up in San Francisco area Don't know it will make any change unless they change the upper limit on the soft cap.

I love love 4g but 3G is better

well, you really gotta understand the technologies (if any) behind "4G"
Tmobile and ATT are now using HSPA+ for their "4G" which in reality its just 3GPP evolved
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolved_HSPA
sprint is using Winmax I believe which is gaining popularity in some areas ( I believe Clear using that as well) and Verizon is using LTE. And even LTE doesnt meet the requirements to be called "4G"
Being described as a 3.9G (beyond 3G but pre-4G) technology the first release LTE does not meet the IMT Advanced requirements for 4G also called IMT Advanced as defined by the International Telecommunication Union such as peak data rates up to 1 Gbit/s. The ITU has invited the submission of candidate Radio Interface Technologies (RITs) following their requirements as mentioned in a circular letter. LTE Advanced should be compatible with first release LTE equipment, and should share frequency bands with first release LTE.
so in reality, all these 4G marketing is just 3G technology better optimized
the requirements for 4G were a bit too demanding ITU had to lowered them down

I'm aware that the current 4G technology isn't technically 4G although I've read the governing body lowered their requirements.
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I guess it will not have any difference because it will be the same tower that houses both 3g and 4g...

ASiC79 said:
I guess it will not have any difference because it will be the same tower that houses both 3g and 4g...
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Isn't it different signals though?
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Clear Says It Can Achieve 90Mbps Downstream via LTE -- And LightSquared Is Involved

Interesting...
http://www.dailywireless.org/2011/03/08/another-rumor-lightsquared-sprint/
Looks like Sprint and LightSquared might be linking up to provide LTE over S's existing spectrum.
Meanwhile, in the same article, it seems that Clear is also looking at converting their towers to LTE base-stations, with the ability to deliver 90Mbps (in un-congested cells) downstream (the carrier in Japan that's getting the EVO said their WiMax network was going to deliver similar capability).
So, is it a done deal: Sprint to LTE (with some spectrum at 2.5GHz standardized around the world), with Clear's network augmenting and providing density?
Also interesting: Best Buy is buying wholesale access from LightSquared -
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/best-buy-signs-up-for-lightsquareds-wholesale-lte-service/
Looks like a very fast, and very LTE future for S. Anyone up for an EVO 5LTE?

really interesting so their not using the 700 mhz band like verizon theyre using the 2.5ghz isnt that bad because it cant penetrate buildings as easily?

Halabeaster54 said:
really interesting so their not using the 700 mhz band like verizon theyre using the 2.5ghz isnt that bad because it cant penetrate buildings as easily?
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Verizon has bought all the good spectrums
A drop of Chuck Norris's semen was placed on Android OS. We now have CyanogenMod.

Lightsquared I believe owns spectrum in the 1400-1500mhz frequencies. If they are going to use Clear's 2500mhz frequency to augment and help with capacity that sounds like a plan.
Edit - article states lightsquared owns spectrum in the 1600mhz frequency. That's still much better than Clear's 2500mhz, and Sprint was able to build their PCS network with 1900mhz frequency.
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That 2.5GHz band is apparently a world-standard. Maybe they have to bump up the wattage to get better penetration into dense buildings?
I was reading a couple of other articles and they are suggesting that Sprint might be talking about acquiring LightSquared. They apparently will be doing some network-sharing definitely.
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/report-lightsquared-talks-sprint-network-sharing-deal/2011-02-23
And interestingly in this ^^^ same article, Dan Hesse is saying that actual field deployment of LTE in their eight largest metro areas will start in the "August timeframe." What??!!
That's interesting to me, because that dude BSOD over at the Android Forums said that the new EVO 3D would be WiMax- and LTE-capable. Makes me wonder if there's a little trick hidden up the EVO 3D's sleeve -- WiMax AND LTE capability -- that Sprint is being coy about right now...

TonyArmstrong said:
That 2.5GHz band is apparently a world-standard. Maybe they have to bump up the wattage to get better penetration into dense buildings?
I was reading a couple of other articles and they are suggesting that Sprint might be talking about acquiring LightSquared. They apparently will be doing some network-sharing definitely.
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/report-lightsquared-talks-sprint-network-sharing-deal/2011-02-23
And interestingly in this ^^^ same article, Dan Hesse is saying that actual field deployment of LTE in their eight largest metro areas will start in the "August timeframe." What??!!
That's interesting to me, because that dude BSOD over at the Android Forums said that the new EVO 3D would be WiMax- and LTE-capable. Makes me wonder if there's a little trick hidden up the EVO 3D's sleeve -- WiMax AND LTE capability -- that Sprint is being coy about right now...
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It is rumored that the Evo 3D is both WiMax/LTE capable.

TonyArmstrong said:
And interestingly in this ^^^ same article, Dan Hesse is saying that actual field deployment of LTE in their eight largest metro areas will start in the "August timeframe." What??!!
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Haha, I just totally went to Wikipedia to see where San Diego was on the list of largest U.S. cities. #8.
I'm really hoping that Sprint does start to move to LTE soon, as it seems like the spread of WiMax has either slowed to a crawl, or completely stopped. Not really a point in having a 4G phone, if you're never going to get the 4G that your phone has a radio for.
That said, I really hope the E3D is WiMax/LTE...it's the only phone I've seen so far that I will trade my EVO for.

DirtyShroomz said:
It is rumored that the Evo 3D is both WiMax/LTE capable.
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Exactly. But no one is talking about it right now.
Kinda makes me think that Sprint has an "October Surprise" of its own planned.

once we get a tear down of this phone we can know for sure what it has in it.

blackroseMD1 said:
Haha, I just totally went to Wikipedia to see where San Diego was on the list of largest U.S. cities. #8.
I'm really hoping that Sprint does start to move to LTE soon, as it seems like the spread of WiMax has either slowed to a crawl, or completely stopped. Not really a point in having a 4G phone, if you're never going to get the 4G that your phone has a radio for.
That said, I really hope the E3D is WiMax/LTE...it's the only phone I've seen so far that I will trade my EVO for.
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I hope Los Angeles gets it. Plenty cities got WiMAX before Los Angeles, which I found odd considering LA is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. Of course, LA is also very spread out, whereas other major metropolitan centers are more compact (see: New York City). Here's hoping for some lovely LTE on our new Evo 3Ds.

I'm still trying to figure out what all the hype about LTE is over. Sure Clear's spectrum sucks for building penetration and their bandwidth is way to small at 10MHz but how would using LTE make it any better?
This may be slightly off topic since I know light squared is bringing more spectrum to the table, but I'm seriously confused about it all.
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xHausx said:
I'm still trying to figure out what all the hype about LTE is over. Sure Clear's spectrum sucks for building penetration and their bandwidth is way to small at 10MHz but how would using LTE make it any better?
This may be slightly off topic since I know light squared is bringing more spectrum to the table, but I'm seriously confused about it all.
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Lightsquared has a lot of Spectrum in the 1600mhz spectrum. With the rumors of them partnering with Sprint on the Network Vision/Project Leapfrog buildout, they will put their equipment on Sprint's towers. This helps with the speed of the build out, and building penetration won't be as much of an issue as 2500mhz Wimax. Most of Sprint's towers were spaced for 1900mhz (they didn't have 800mhz until acquiring Nextel), so I would assume 1600mhz LTE should be fine for indoor use.
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Yay lets achieve 90mbps in areas that already have 4G and not roll it out to the little guys who still can't get 4G(very populated area). Sprints network blows.
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blackroseMD1 said:
Haha, I just totally went to Wikipedia to see where San Diego was on the list of largest U.S. cities. #8.
I'm really hoping that Sprint does start to move to LTE soon, as it seems like the spread of WiMax has either slowed to a crawl, or completely stopped. Not really a point in having a 4G phone, if you're never going to get the 4G that your phone has a radio for.
That said, I really hope the E3D is WiMax/LTE...it's the only phone I've seen so far that I will trade my EVO for.
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totalanonymity said:
I hope Los Angeles gets it. Plenty cities got WiMAX before Los Angeles, which I found odd considering LA is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. Of course, LA is also very spread out, whereas other major metropolitan centers are more compact (see: New York City). Here's hoping for some lovely LTE on our new Evo 3Ds.
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I think the operative term is "their eight largest" metropolitan areas -- meaning the eight markets that have the most Sprint customers, regardless their place in the overall largest metro areas. I assume that Sprint's 8 largest markets are roughly similar to the largest metro areas overall.
Hopefully, we'll all be benefiting from dramatically faster mobile broadband speeds.

Sprint's 4G solution is at a crawl or complete stop, because that's exactly what happened. The rollout is at a complete stop, and both companies still are not at an agreement. The ones who are still committed to Clear stopped investing, and it's just a mess. Sprint wants Clear to join their Network Vision, which would save both companies billions of dollars. This is the holdup on Sprint's decision towards LTE. Lightsquared is ready to use their Network Vision, and will pay Sprint for it. Clear better make their decision quick, or other companies will help Sprint make the decision soon.
The 8 largest metropolitan cities that Hesse was talking about was their multi-mode towers, and nothing more. Sprint have "soft" LTE markets, but nothing close to launch. Clear is holding **** up.
As for the EVO 3D having Beceem's BCS500 chip, which will be the first of its kind and not even in mass production, is driving me up the wall. That and a firmware, not hardware revisions, will make their old 4G capable devices run LTE. People don't think for themselves anymore. MSM8660 is not LTE-capable or 1X- Advanced/SVDO ready, but if BSOD said it, it's true. I guess I have to find the secret Sim Card later on today.

Don't be so quick to jump on the Lightsquared bandwagon. They will soon be shutdown by the FCC and FAA if they can't solve the bleed over problem. Seems their tech interferes with GPS and WAAS receivers making them a danger to aviation and air traffic control. During tests an aircraft within 15 miles of their towers have had total GPS failure. They've been working on it for a while but haven't been able to fix it. Now they are trying to blame the GPS manufacturers, but it is a spectrum issue and the FAA may force the FCC to block the spectrum if they can't solve their noise bleedover problem into the GPS spectrum.

TonyArmstrong said:
Interesting...
http://www.dailywireless.org/2011/03/08/another-rumor-lightsquared-sprint/
Looks like Sprint and LightSquared might be linking up to provide LTE over S's existing spectrum.
Meanwhile, in the same article, it seems that Clear is also looking at converting their towers to LTE base-stations, with the ability to deliver 90Mbps (in un-congested cells) downstream (the carrier in Japan that's getting the EVO said their WiMax network was going to deliver similar capability).
So, is it a done deal: Sprint to LTE (with some spectrum at 2.5GHz standardized around the world), with Clear's network augmenting and providing density?
Also interesting: Best Buy is buying wholesale access from LightSquared -
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/best-buy-signs-up-for-lightsquareds-wholesale-lte-service/
Looks like a very fast, and very LTE future for S. Anyone up for an EVO 5LTE?
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Doubt sprint moves fully to a LTE only network anytime in the near future.
Check out this video with the Clearwire CTO discussing the LTE trials.
http://www.lightreading.com/video.asp?doc_id=205968&
He clearly talks about how they are looking at doing both. He also says their trails will not be done for a few more months.
The good thing is the speed he reports being able to get is outstanding!

a couple points of clarification;
Re in-building penetration at 2.5 GHz. This is a major downside to using 2.5GHz frequencies, but part of the advantage to network vision is that Sprint will be able to use various technologies at different frequencies. So they'll be able to run WiMax and / or LTE at the 1.9 GHz frequencies that are currently used for CDMA / EVDO, and eventually even at the 800 MHz frequencies currently used by the iDEN network (current PTT users will need to be migrated to next-generation PTT on CDMA before that spectrum can be used for other technologies. The upside to 2.5 GHz is the amount of Bandwidth Sprint's got there. Prior to the Sprint / Nextel merger, each company had enough bandwidth on it's own to run a nationwide 4G network at 2.5GHz (Nextel even trialed a Flash-OFDM based network for a while in 2003/2004, but the technology wasn't ready yet and the real-world performance was not any faster than 3G).
Regarding bandwidth, Sprint / Clear has an average of 120 MHz of bandwidth at 2.5GHz, not 10 MHz. Some of that may be Sprint's and some may be Clears, but my understanding is that most of that is owned by Clear as that bandwidth constituted the bulk of Sprint's investment in Clear. Either company should be able make use of plenty of spectrum at 2.5 GHZ for whatever purposes they deem worthy, assuming they can work out their pricing arguments. Some articles that came out a couple of weeks ago (I think one was in the Wall Street Journal, among other financial sites) made it sound like they're close to hashing out some sort of agreement, and that Clear will have the cash it needs this spring. Can't happen soon enough if you ask me.
And lastly, there's no way Sprint would move to LTE exclusively. The new multi-modal towers make it very easy to deploy multiple technology side by side. Since the network format will be decoupled from network hardware, running a new network on the same tower is as easy as pushing a software update out to the tower. There's no need to uninstall the old technology to enable new technology. Sprint's got too many 4G customers already on board to make them all migrate to a new technology, and Hesse has publicly stated that Sprint's future in 4G will include WiMax regardless of whatever else may be offered.

cruise350 said:
Don't be so quick to jump on the Lightsquared bandwagon. They will soon be shutdown by the FCC and FAA if they can't solve the bleed over problem. Seems their tech interferes with GPS and WAAS receivers making them a danger to aviation and air traffic control. During tests an aircraft within 15 miles of their towers have had total GPS failure. They've been working on it for a while but haven't been able to fix it. Now they are trying to blame the GPS manufacturers, but it is a spectrum issue and the FAA may force the FCC to block the spectrum if they can't solve their noise bleedover problem into the GPS spectrum.
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Do you have any articles about the bleed over? I'd love to read more into this.

SilverStone641 said:
Do you have any articles about the bleed over? I'd love to read more into this.
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dude who do you get your internet service from to get that speed in your sig? I know PSINET went under long ago in '01 i think so speedtest is reporting the isp wront on the result there.

Sprint Deploying LTE-Advanced in 2013

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprint-will-deploy-lte-advanced-first-half-2013/2011-10-25
Though 12-15 mbits/sec seems a little slow for LTE-Advanced considering that's what Verizon has now. What will standard LTE be on Sprint?

xboxfanj said:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprint-will-deploy-lte-advanced-first-half-2013/2011-10-25
Though 12-15 mbits/sec seems a little slow for LTE-Advanced considering that's what Verizon has now. What will standard LTE be on Sprint?
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Give me a break...we don't even have 4G yet or Gingerbread yet.

xboxfanj said:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprint-will-deploy-lte-advanced-first-half-2013/2011-10-25
Though 12-15 mbits/sec seems a little slow for LTE-Advanced considering that's what Verizon has now. What will standard LTE be on Sprint?
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That's what you will get in the 800mhz band. With a 5x5 which is the best they can do, you should get 5mhz*(5bits/hz) = 25mbps for regular LTE then something better for LTE advanced. Just FYI, Speed = Bandwidth * Spectral efficiency (for regular lte 5 bits/hz). So they are prbably going to deploy regular LTE in the 1900mhz band in 10x10 (or 10mhz up / 10mhz down) which should give us a theoretical max speed of (10Mhz)*(5bits/hz)= 50 mbps.

lorenza said:
Give me a break...we don't even have 4G yet or Gingerbread yet.
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Sprint does not equal Epic. The dept. handling the Epic and the OTA is not the same handling the hardware network upgrades. I am sure they have more than 1 tech employee (although there are times it doesn't seem that way lol).
The Epic is such a tiny percentage of Sprint and am sure they could care less whether we get the OTA or not. I also think they will not be upgrading anymore towers with WImax with LTE coming.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

lynyrd65 said:
That's what you will get in the 800mhz band. With a 5x5 which is the best they can do, you should get 5mhz*(5bits/hz) = 25mbps for regular LTE then something better for LTE advanced. Just FYI, Speed = Bandwidth * Spectral efficiency (for regular lte 5 bits/hz). So they are prbably going to deploy regular LTE in the 1900mhz band in 10x10 (or 10mhz up / 10mhz down) which should give us a theoretical max speed of (10Mhz)*(5bits/hz)= 50 mbps.
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I'd suggest you look at the article. It says they will deploy LTE Advanced in a 10x10 configuration. Given LTE Advanced has spectral efficiency near 15 bitz/hz, it should have a theoretical max of 150mhz.
---------- Post added at 09:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 AM ----------
kennyglass123 said:
Sprint does not equal Epic. The dept. handling I also think they will not be upgrading anymore towers with WImax with LTE coming.
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Technically, Sprint doesn't even own, operate, or handle the towers that have WiMax - those are all owned by ClearWire, which has major financial issues, especially with Sprint cutting their losses on them.
ClearWire estimates it needs 150-300 million to maintain their current WiMax network, without even expanding or doing LTE. They estimate it will take 600 million to upgrade to LTE Advanced and start rolling out to more areas.

lorenza said:
Give me a break...we don't even have 4G yet or Gingerbread yet.
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I talked to Sprint about the fact that I've been told we would have 4 g in Phoenix over a year ago and still don't and was told we will not get it because Sprint is going LTE next year. And thats even if they put it here. So if you don't have 4g yet don't count in ever having it and just hope you actually get Or next year. In the mean time I dont pay premium data charges cause I don't get what I pay for. They credit me. It took a while but I got it done.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

kennyglass123 said:
Sprint does not equal Epic. The dept. handling the Epic and the OTA is not the same handling the hardware network upgrades. I am sure they have more than 1 tech employee (although there are times it doesn't seem that way lol).
The Epic is such a tiny percentage of Sprint and am sure they could care less whether we get the OTA or not. I also think they will not be upgrading anymore towers with WImax with LTE coming.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
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Agreed, but Sprint does equal Nextel and having LTE on the 1900 Mhz band (in 2013 mind you) isn't going to increase the signal penetration any better then it is right now. If Sprint got their head out of the a$$ a few years ago and started phasing out the ~850 Mhz Nextel people and put LTE on that band, they'd be able equal to Verizon/AT&T right now instead of in last place with the crappy Q3 report that was just released (another $300 million in the hole). Clearwire stock is still sitting under $2 a share with the other pending issue of Lightsquared GPS issue for which their solution is still not approved by the FCC.
Even know the iPhone might help them somewhat in this quarter, I'm hearing that data on 3G is crawling in many places right now, I can't wait to see how this situation ends.
Sprint's long term future is on very shaking ground right now, IMO, it hurts them to keep choosing the wrong technology to back. Before it was Nextel, now it WiMax tomorrow it will be...
P.S. It also doesn't help them after all of their eff ups to not support their phones or adequately test them before release, the Epic is one big Cluster F...

I just want some 4G period. Sprint better be rolling out LTE to the markets that don't even have Wi-Max first. I live in the biggest metro area in the state, and don't have Wi-Max, meanwhile some of the Podunk towns elsewhere do. WTH. Verizon has already announced LTE will be up here next month.

I'm not a supporter of Sprint any more than the next guy. The only thing that keeps me around is the cheap price, quantity of minutes, and unlimited data. If any of those budges I would be gone.
Aside, I know Network Vision really is thrown around by a lot of people here (and maybe too much by some who don't have technical engineering backgrounds), but it's really a bold move by Sprint.
They're putting out Software Defined Radios on all new cell towers, something Verizon isn't doing in their LTE move.
Essentially, this will enable the move of LTE Advanced to be a software upgrade, rather than a full hardware change-out. I'd imagine they're waiting until 2013 so they can roll this out on the valuable 850Mhz nationwide iDen spectrum.
The 1900 Mhz will probably be restricted to CDMA Legacy operation. Sprint will concentrate their valuable 800 and 850 Mhz holding on the long-distance LTE / LTE Advanced.

MikeyLee said:
I talked to Sprint about the fact that I've been told we would have 4 g in Phoenix over a year ago and still don't and was told we will not get it because Sprint is going LTE next year. And thats even if they put it here. So if you don't have 4g yet don't count in ever having it and just hope you actually get Or next year. In the mean time I dont pay premium data charges cause I don't get what I pay for. They credit me. It took a while but I got it done.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
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Tell me how you got out of the premium data fee? I have spent probably 15 minutes total time on 4g in almost a year of having this phone. My 3g speeds are crap as well
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

jnadke said:
I'm not a supporter of Sprint any more than the next guy. The only thing that keeps me around is the cheap price, quantity of minutes, and unlimited data. If any of those budges I would be gone.
Aside, I know Network Vision really is thrown around by a lot of people here (and maybe too much by some who don't have technical engineering backgrounds), but it's really a bold move by Sprint.
They're putting out Software Defined Radios on all new cell towers, something Verizon isn't doing in their LTE move.
Essentially, this will enable the move of LTE Advanced to be a software upgrade, rather than a full hardware change-out. I'd imagine they're waiting until 2013 so they can roll this out on the valuable 850Mhz nationwide iDen spectrum.
The 1900 Mhz will probably be restricted to CDMA Legacy operation. Sprint will concentrate their valuable 800 and 850 Mhz holding on the long-distance LTE / LTE Advanced.
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According to this and my attached screen shot:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/sprints-lte-plans-detailed-phones-tablets-and-modems-coming-b/
Sprint said that they will be adding LTE to the 1900 Mhz first, iDEN won't even begin to shutdown to the end of 2013, who knows how many months or years after they are off that band will they start to recycle the 850Mhz frequencies. Sprint didn't mention any of this at the Strategy Update event so it's not even official what they are doing with the 850Mhz range. They may end up selling it, to the highest bidder just to bail out Clearwire!
The software firmware change-out plan is cool if it works but they still have to get through supporting Clearwire, they need about 150-300 million dollars to stay afloat, no one else is footing that bill at the moment. If the FCC shoots down lightsquared proposed GPS fix, say goodbye to at least a portion of the 1500 Mhz spectrum.
Meanwhile more and more people are leaving Sprint, if they can't stabilize 3G for the iPhone users even more people are going to leave next year and what's the point of unlimited data if you can't access it. My Epic takes a good 2 to 3 minutes to populate my facebook feed via 3G with full bars, wifi takes a few seconds so it's not solely the phones problem.
I guess the bottom line is sure, Sprint has some plans in the future 2+ years down the line, at that point Sprint might be the carrier to beat, but they do have some GIGANTIC barriers to overcome first and the 2 big ones are Clearwire and 3G being stretched too thinly, the more iPhone users that pop up the more congested their network will become, it's a blessing and a curse that the iPhone doesn't have a Wimax radio onboard. It would have at the very least, lesson the congestion on the 3G bands...

jnadke said:
They're putting out Software Defined Radios on all new cell towers, something Verizon isn't doing in their LTE move.
Essentially, this will enable the move of LTE Advanced to be a software upgrade, rather than a full hardware change-out. I'd imagine they're waiting until 2013 so they can roll this out on the valuable 850Mhz nationwide iDen spectrum.
The 1900 Mhz will probably be restricted to CDMA Legacy operation. Sprint will concentrate their valuable 800 and 850 Mhz holding on the long-distance LTE / LTE Advanced.
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While Sprint is using Software Defined Radios, the idea of it being just a software upgrade to change things is a bit overstated. Potentially, future upgrades will also require a card swipe out as well, but still, a lot less upgrading will be needed in comparison to what they do now. If everything on that end was just software, why wouldn't they do Rev. B for their CDMA channels, as it would use the spectrum even more efficiently for the devices out there that already support it? Perhaps there is licensing to pay for using it?
Actually, the way they stated things at their Oct. 7th announcement, CDMA will be on 850mhz over time, and 1900mhz will be their LTE, although they'll eventually probably use both on both frequencies. Sprint holds more spectrum in the 1900mhz block than they do in the 850mhz (about 36mhz vs 14 mhz). Sprint needs both.