Sprint launching four new 4G LTE markets by Labor Day, if they can get past the birds
In case you missed it in today’s earlier post covering Sprint’s Q2 earnings call, the carrier has revealed plans for four additional 4G LTE markets to launch by Labor Day. These include Baltimore, which was originally penciled in as a launch market, and expansions in Gainesville, Georgia; Manhattan/Junction City, Kansas and Sherman-Denison, Texas.
Still, one major obstacle stands in the way of Sprint’s continued efforts to rollout a widespread LTE network: birds. Speaking during their call this morning, it was revealed that a number of the carriers towers have been inundated with nesting birds, an ecological situation that has put Sprint in a precarious position. They won’t be able to activate these towers until the birds begin their winter migrations. Add in the wait for fiber-optic backhaul, and the result is the rather sluggish initial rollout we are currently seeing.
[Sprint]