The Sprint executive team fielded a lot of questions about its network deployment plan as it struggles to catch up with the competition. October 30, 2013 6:05 AM PDT (Credit: Sprint) Sprint could potentially look for partners to augment its wireless network. That's according to Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, who spoke on a conference call with analysts on Wednesday. Hesse was fielding a question about the search for additional spectrum, the radio airwaves necessary to carry cellular traffic. Hesse touted the company's position, which has a Frankenstein-like combination of different spectrum, including its core Sprint spectrum, as well as airwaves gleaned from the now defunct Nextel network and the recently acquired Clearwire. While the spectrum is different, Sprint's upgraded network would be better able to juggle all of them, he said. Hesse, however, added that Sprint could partner with another owner of spectrum to deploy it on its network for additional capacity. Sprint's Network Vision upgrade program is installing a network infrastructure able to handle multiple bands. He didn't mention any companies, but one candidate is Dish Network, which has acquired a large swath of spectrum from bankruptcy proceedings. Related stories Sprint swings to profit of $383M but loses customers Cell phone takes bullet for gas station clerk Sprint adds 45 LTE markets, puts pressure on T-Mobile Truck containing 22,500 LG G2 phones goes missing T-Mobile offers 200MB free data with every iPad Dish, of course, launched a failed attempt to buy Sprint after the carrier had already agreed to be taken over by SoftBank. Hesse said he would also look at spectrum auctions as they come up. Analysts bombarded Sprint executive with questions about its network upgrade plans. The company, distracted by the takeover of Clearwire and its own deal with Japanese carrier SoftBank, has fallen behind and now lags even T-Mobile with its LTE deployment. Sprint earlier reported a net loss of 313,000 customers, including an even bigger loss of 360,000 contract customers. Hesse warned that the losses would continue into the fourth quarter as it continues to feel the effects of the Nextel network shutdown. The implementation of Clearwire's spectrum, which runs at the 2.5 gigahertz frequency, should boost peak speeds to 50 to 60 megabits per second, according Steve Elfman, head of network and operations for Sprint.
The Sprint executive team fielded a lot of questions about its network deployment plan as it struggles to catch up with the competition.
Sprint could potentially look for partners to augment its wireless network.
That's according to Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, who spoke on a conference call with analysts on Wednesday. Hesse was fielding a question about the search for additional spectrum, the radio airwaves necessary to carry cellular traffic.
Hesse touted the company's position, which has a Frankenstein-like combination of different spectrum, including its core Sprint spectrum, as well as airwaves gleaned from the now defunct Nextel network and the recently acquired Clearwire. While the spectrum is different, Sprint's upgraded network would be better able to juggle all of them, he said.
Hesse, however, added that Sprint could partner with another owner of spectrum to deploy it on its network for additional capacity. Sprint's Network Vision upgrade program is installing a network infrastructure able to handle multiple bands. He didn't mention any companies, but one candidate is Dish Network, which has acquired a large swath of spectrum from bankruptcy proceedings.
Related stories
- Sprint swings to profit of $383M but loses customers
- Cell phone takes bullet for gas station clerk
- Sprint adds 45 LTE markets, puts pressure on T-Mobile
- Truck containing 22,500 LG G2 phones goes missing
- T-Mobile offers 200MB free data with every iPad
Dish, of course, launched a failed attempt to buy Sprint after the carrier had already agreed to be taken over by SoftBank.
Hesse said he would also look at spectrum auctions as they come up.
Analysts bombarded Sprint executive with questions about its network upgrade plans. The company, distracted by the takeover of Clearwire and its own deal with Japanese carrier SoftBank, has fallen behind and now lags even T-Mobile with its LTE deployment.
Sprint earlier reported a net loss of 313,000 customers, including an even bigger loss of 360,000 contract customers. Hesse warned that the losses would continue into the fourth quarter as it continues to feel the effects of the Nextel network shutdown.
The implementation of Clearwire's spectrum, which runs at the 2.5 gigahertz frequency, should boost peak speeds to 50 to 60 megabits per second, according Steve Elfman, head of network and operations for Sprint.
