By Sprint’s confident in their plans to get their LTE network to a majority of their customers by the end of 2013 and they keep rolling on with deployment. Today they’ve announced that new LTE clusters have been deployed in the Kankakee, IL area, just 60 miles south of Chicago.
They’re planning on bringing their first 4G LTE devices starting in mid-2012, including hotspots/modems, smartphones and tablets. Sprint says they’ve already started noticing improved network performance for their customers thanks to their steps in deploying “Network Vision,” their movement to bring a better data and voice network for all, not just soon-to-be LTE users.
After the very disappointing WiMax rollout from Clearwire we’re glad to see Sprint confident in their plans to bring a modern 4G network for their users. Perhaps by the time these devices come some of you can still take advantage of a promotion Sprint seems to be holding (but not exactly advertising). Read on for full press details.
Sprint delivers 3G network upgrades coast-to-coast, marks significant milestones in Network Vision deployment
As 2011 draws to a close, Sprint customers from New York City to San Francisco now enjoy enhanced 3G coverage, resulting in faster data speeds and fewer dropped calls
LTE deployment is on track for 2013
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), December 27, 2011 – As part of its Network Vision program, Sprint (NYSE:S) doubled its 2011 capital investment over 2010 to make tens of thousands of capacity upgrades, resulting in a better wireless experience for its customers. Smartphone penetration is expected to double over the next four years.* With Network Vision, Sprint is making it easier for data to travel, so its smartphone customers – who use on average 10 times more data than feature phone customers* – can use their devices the way they were intended.
As a result of the network improvements across the country, voice service is enhanced and Sprint customers can expect to see better performance on their smartphones, mobile broadband connection cards and mobile hotspots when using the Sprint 3G network. Performance improvements include:
Faster data speeds that enable instant web access for news updates, HD viewing and game-playing, quicker video downloads and clear video chats
Better signal strength when making a call or using the web
Fewer dropped calls for peace of mind when talking to friends, family or colleagues
“With the network investments we made in 2011 and as the only national wireless carrier to offer truly unlimited data plans while on the Sprint network, we continue to offer better value than Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T.” said Bob Azzi, SVP – Network, Sprint. “But our commitment to an exceptional wireless experience doesn’t stop there. Sprint’s on an aggressive path to roll out Network Vision, and in collaboration with our partners, have already achieved many significant milestones that offer improved customer experience on the Sprint 3G network, and we expect to maintain and even accelerate this momentum in 2012.”
Throughout 2011, Sprint achieved a number of significant milestones in the deployment of Network Vision. It is on track to offer LTE devices by mid-year 2012 and complete the majority of its Network Vision rollout in 2013. Sprint expects to make additional announcements about the timing of LTE markets and devices early next year. Milestones include:
Completed development and integration of back-office systems to support the new base stations to ensure a seamless rollout
Finished lab testing of all components of the Network Vision platform, eliminating most technical risks of the program and validating rapid LTE deployment schedule
Launched Sprint Direct Connect® on CDMA and introduced three devices, allowing our iDEN customers to move to a truly mobile data experience with a comparable platinum push-to-talk experience
Launched first multi-modal base station in Branchburg, N.J., and validated improved 3G data performance metrics, such as voice quality, drops and blocks and data speeds
Launched first cluster of cell sites in Kankakee, Ill. and completing field integration testing
Nationwide, Sprint is overhauling its entire network and replacing existing equipment with the newest, most advanced equipment available in the industry through a program called Network Vision. Announced in December 2010, Network Vision is planned to consolidate multiple network technologies into one seamless network with the goal of increasing efficiency and enhancing network coverage, call quality and data speeds for customers.
Network Vision and the recent upgrades reflect Sprint’s commitment to customer service, which tied for the No. 1 spot among major wireless carriers for customer satisfaction in the 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index. The survey showed Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, over the past three years.
[Engadget]
QK – IMO your words “by the end of 2013” is kind of misleading. it implies very late 2013 when in fact it could be very early 2013. that’s not what the press release says. 1 year is a lifetime in this business.
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complete the majority of its Network Vision rollout in 2013.”
But at the live conference, they did, in fact, say “by the end of 2013.” 2013 is 2013.
My OG Evo is still running like a champ with ICS 4.0.3! I can wait a little bit more, BUT HURRY!
there is no running ics for the evo… unless you dont mind having no camera…or 4g….
My contract is up in a couple weeks, I am still pretty hesitant to upgrade to a 4G phone knowing WiMAX is going to be killed off/not upgraded much over the life of the 2 year contract. Especially since where I live & work there is no 4G coverage right now.
Well since I was promised wimax by the third quarter of this year should I be getting a refund or a free phone that will work on the new lte network. Seeing as tthe oonly reason I bought this phone was to have 4g and now I find out that they just straight lied to sell me a phone. So what compensation do I get for false advertisement? Fucking bullshit.
Yeah I bought an EVO 4G then an EVO 3D 4G Both of which will never see the light of 4G so….
So what if I still have this EVO by the time LTE reaches me am I outta luck cause this is a Wimax phone
no, youll be fine for a couple more years
I’m only 20 minutes from Kankakee(park forest) but I’m with tmobile so it don’t matter anyway.
WiMax will be supported until 2015. WiMax devices will stop being sold by end of 2012. Don’t worry, your devices will work fine.
Really network improvement must not be in kansas i told sprint where to shove it and went to AT&T cause i spent 3 days with no phone at all cause of no signal and they had the balls to tell me it was my phone yeah right like both phones on my account are going to have the same signal problem at the same time. I wish them luck in this but i think there to late.
I don’t know what improvements Sprint is talking about, but for the past week my texts have been delayed for up to 3 days. I’m getting pissed about it. Doesn’t matter what carrier I send it to. I’m not saying every text but at least a few a day. I’m getting worse service.
That’s great its supported untill 2015 but the only Wimax market in Michigan is grand rapids… I live about 15-30 minutes from Detroit and am sure as yell not traveling cross state to use 4G and like the other person said it is false advertising when saying 4G markets are “expanding” then they change it up to making the “4G” LTE 4G…
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