Sprint PCS Affiliates Expand Coverage

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

well i guess Sprint just doesnt have the BORG mentality. instead of assimilating.....we partner up [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]


From Sprint PCS Public Relations

AirGate PCS

Fort Dodge, Iowa, Hastings and Grand Island/Kearney, Neb., became part
of our nationwide network in March. These areas are served by AirGate
PCS, a Sprint PCS Affiliate with licenses covering more than 14.5
million people in territories within seven states located in the
southeastern and mid-western United States.

UbiquiTel

Murray, Ky., are covered by our network since March through UbiquiTel, a
Sprint PCS Affiliate with licenses covering more than 7.6 million people
through Sprint PCS licenses in 39 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs) in 11
states.

US Unwired

Ithaca and Plattsburg, N.Y., and Burlington and Rutland, Vt., became
part of our nationwide network in March. These areas are covered by US
Unwired Inc., a Sprint PCS Affiliate with licenses covering more than
17.6 million people in 67 markets in 14 states.

Sprint PCS has 10 Affiliates representing licensed PCS coverage of more
than 77 million people in 44 states. Sprint PCS Affiliates are
constructing all-digital, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) wireless
networks, the majority of which will operate on the licenses owned by
Sprint PCS. Each Sprint PCS Affiliate operates and markets its network
as Sprint PCS service, thus bringing the quality brand, marketing, and
distribution programs of Sprint PCS to a large number of new customers.
Each Sprint PCS Affiliate benefits from Sprint PCS' relationships with
key infrastructure and phone manufacturers, and national retail
distribution partners.

Through its affiliations, Sprint PCS has expanded its national footprint
to give all Sprint PCS subscribers significantly expanded coverage and
Sprint PCS retains its competitive edge in providing the largest 100
percent digital 100 percent PCS regional and national wireless service
footprint.

[Dukedog]

That's why Sprint is the fastest growing carrier because they counting their affiliates customers as well, but I'm not going to talk down on Sprint, they are doing some nice things with their service and they can also do I alot better, but who am I to judge.

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

without even counting their affiliates I think they still topped out for the last quarter.

nothing wrong with affiliates. they are held to the same standard of network cdma1900mhz and build out while sprintpcs customers get to use the network as part of the nationwide network.

its a win-win situation.

for sprint because they expand their network faster with the help of other PCS companies

for the customers because they get better coverage quicker on brand new networks in areas that it would take sprint longer to do it solo.

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

look. sprint has its issues. some markets like chicago they are sorely lacking. they have some bad CS reps and issues that need to be taken care of yes like all carriers and I do hope that they will sort those areas out.

but I think they are aggressively building out a high quality digital network for their customers. i mean look at verizon-the biggest carrier with the most coverage and making the most money of all-

and their digital network is still smaller than sprints and their nationwide 3g launch is going to be minimum 6 months slower than sprints. with all this money they should have aggressively built up their digital network to help get customers off inferior analog networks and be prepared for a more hi-tech and stable digital wireless market.

analog networks are needed and will be for a while to get cover to more small town and rural areas, I am not saying to get rid of them.....but if sprint with so much debt can build out a big digital network why cant verizon upgrade its network faster?

by using affiliates sprint is using a good method to build up good digital coverage as fast as possible in as many markets as possible serving all travelling customers better.

[larry]

Keep in mind that Sprint affiliates do count as part of Sprint's network and customer base because they offer Sprint PCS branded service, billing, marketing, etc. and the great majority of which use Sprint's operating licenses. Even without the affiliates being counted Sprint still led the industry in customer growth by at least 75K.