Who has the largest all digital network?

[Andy]

Here is the last paragraph I found in an article about Nextel:
<<About Nextel

Nextel Communications, a Fortune 300 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc., currently serve 198 of the top 200 U.S. markets.>>

Now, here is the last paragraph I found in an article about Sprint PCS:
<<About Sprint

Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately 72,000 employees worldwide and nearly $27 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the- art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all- digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local voice and data services in 18 states and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States.>>

The article about Nextel says that Nextel has the largest all digital coverage, the article about Sprint says that Sprint has the largest all digital network...What's going on?
In another article I read that Nextel covers 240 Million people and the Sprint website says they cover more than 230 million people... Does Sprint just have the largest CDMA network, whereas Nextel has the largest IDEN Network?
Can anybody help?
Thanks,
Andy

[Matt]

Sprint's notes include "PCS" which means services provided at 1900 Mhz. Nextel doesn't use that band. T-Mobile, BTW is at 224M, all digital, all PCS.

[bobolito]

It would be easier for Nextel to have the largest digital network since they operate around the SMR 800 band so they need less towers. However, I believe Sprint has the largest PCS network and of course, more towers than any other carrier since they use 1900Mhz. T-Mobile has some catching up to do right behind Sprint.

[ILUVSOCAL]

It may be the largest, but it doesn't cover where I live(Mendocino County, NW California)nor other large chunks of the state. AT&T and Verizon are the champions here, Sprint and Cingular are close behind though.

[danny boi]

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]


IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, EVERY CARRIER IN ITS OWN WAY CAN CLAIM TO BE THE LARGEST IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. SPRINT CLAIMS TO BE THE NATION'S LARGEST ALL-DIGITAL-PCS NETWORK BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP. AT&T CLAIMS TO BE THE NATION'S LARGEST INDEPENDENT CARRIER. T-MOBILE CLAIMS TO BE THE LARGEST ALL-DIGITAL-PCS-GSM CARRIER IN THE U.S. CINGULAR CLAIMS TO BE THE LARGEST ALL-DIGITAL CARRIER IN CALIFORNIA. VERIZON WIRELESS CLAIMS TO BE THE NATION'S LARGEST PROVIDER BASED ON NATIONAL FOOTPRINT SIZE AND SUBSCRIBER BASE.

MY BUDDY HAS T-MOBILE AND TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THAT HE READ THAT T-MOBILE IS THE LARGEST CARRIER IN THE U.S. I KNOW HE IS MISTAKEN, BUT ONE CAN SEE HOW THE WAY WIRELESS COMPANIES ADVERTISE AND OVER-USE THE WORD "LARGEST" CAN BE SLIGHTLY MISLEADING ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AVERAGE CONSUMER MAY BE UNFAMILIAR WITH WIRELESS JARGON ALTOGETHER.

VERIZON WIRELESS' DIGITAL NETWORK ALONE IS STILL LARGER THAN MOST CARRIERS ENTIRE NETWORK, BUT BECAUSE THEY COMBINE THEIR DIGITAL SERVIDE WITH AN ANALOG SYSTEM USING THE 800 MHZ FREQUENCY, THEY SIMPLY CLAIM TO BE THE LARGEST IN THE U.S. NOT THE LARGEST ALL-DIGITAL NETWORK IN THE U.S. LIKE SOME OTHER CARRIERS DO...

STILL, EVEN IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE SMALLEST DIGITAL NETWORK IN THE U.S., IF IT WORKS AT LEAST 95% OF THE TIME WHERE YOU LIVE, WORK AND PLAY MOST, I'D SAY USE IT AND ENJOY...

[ILUVSOCAL]

"STILL, EVEN IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE SMALLEST DIGITAL NETWORK IN THE U.S., IF IT WORKS AT LEAST 95% OF THE TIME WHERE YOU LIVE, WORK AND PLAY MOST, I'D SAY USE IT AND ENJOY"

You just hit the head on the proverbial nail [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]