Sprint-Nextel developing WiMax

Clearwire and Sprint setting up roaming agreements and both of them moving forward with their WiMax buildouts will be great for Americas wireless future for sure.

 

What does this mean?

The Wall Street Journal reported that Sprint Nextel is in conversations with Clearwire Corp. to potentially spin off its WiMAX operations, due to pressure from shareholders who are nervous about the cost of the infrastructure investments while the company’s wireless customer metrics are still lagging.

 

It appears they are looking to either sell part of the WiMax or Partner with someone, but have controlling interest in it.

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtrader...s-sees-slower-than-expected-return-to-growth/

 

Heres a clip from a Sprint press release in Aug.2006:

Wow, it looks like Sprint is going all-or-nothing with WiMAX. But thats kind of risky because from what I've heard, the mobile WiMAX version has some mobility problems, and most operators I've seen now are using WiMAX as a fixed line replacement solution for subscribers in rural areas who can't get xDSL via cable/fixedline. And there's not alot of $ in covering rural areas (as most cellular operators allready know) maybe that's why the financial managers are getting cold feet?

To tout mobile WiMAX as 4G maybe a little premature, as there's still a way to go in terms of development and business cases ie: how/where to deploy it? How will it work together/interface with 2G/3G and WiFi networks?.

It won't replace any existing networks, but try to compliment them, since the WiMAX coverage is not good enough and doesn't gaurantee the Quality of Service needed to compete with "true" mobile networks, and the WiMAX forum acknowledges that:

I can see WiMAX being used as some kind of "umbrella" WiFi network in city areas maybe, or being offered as an alternative to congested 3G (HSDPA or EvDO) networks, but that's about it.

I don't mean to sound negative, I'd love to see WiMAX launched and intergarated with 2G/3G networks, but it's not going to be the next best thing since sliced bread either ;-)

 

As far was WiMax goes I can only say that Muskegon, Michigan has WiMax and I know several people who immediately dropped cable or dsl and switched to WiMax. The reason was simply that no one likes AT&T or the cable companies. I know when Grand Rapids gets WiMax I'll definitely consider it. It won't have to be cheaper or faster than dsl/cable. It'll just need to be reasonably competitive. If the people I know are any indication than WiMax has a bright future.

The thing that should make AT&T scared is that if I don't have DSl anymore than my home phone will no longer be the cheapest long distance I can get and I'd have little reason to have a home phone number. The landline is certainly more expensive otherwise for the limited amount of calling I do.

 

Another "plus" in the fixed WiMAX column, is that it's also easily portable. If you move around alot, or want to take it along with you to a friends house or weekend home, thats a huge advantage over fixed line ADSL.

 

Sprint is moving away from one proprietary technology (iDEN) to get into another one (WiMAX). They'll keep begging manufacturers to make exclusive phones for them, which won't have international roaming and will not be compatible with any other carriers. They'll need dual/mode proprietary devices for a few years while the transition takes place (CDMA/WiMAX). So they'll be trying to marry oil and vinegar once more like they are doing with iDEN and CDMA now. Let's not even mention other issues like, they won't be able to roam on Verizon or Alltel anymore which they heavily rely on to fill-in their gaps.

I think Sprint is swimming upstream here. I hope they know what they're doing because stepping away from industry standards has always been a growth limiter. Just look what happened with Nextel.

 

I don't think WiMAX will be as disaterous as iDen was. WiMAX is at least an IP-based IEEE standard. And OFDM (which WiMAX uses) is the forerunner for 4G networks. In Finland they are building a FLASH-OFDM network on 450 Mhz since last year, and alot of people are looking at that to see how it pans out (Finns are always ahead in this stuff . It's really hard to say. It also depends what kind of agreements WiMAX can get to have their technology intergrated into laptops and handsets (I think Intel is backing WiMAX?) WiFI is popping up in alot of new handsets, but I think thats due to customer demand?

However the real 4G is going to happen more in the core network, as "convergance" will allow handovers from different networks to each other (ie: CDMA to WiFi or WiMAX)...however, yea, you'll have to have dual or triple mode handsets which will be expensive and confusing:googlyeye.

 

Sprint is prepping their CDMA network for QChat by upgrading all of it to EV-DO Rev A..........when they get WiMax they should try their hardest to get laptops with aircards off the cellular network because since laptops dont do much to compress data they really bog down the network.........the CDMA network should be used primarily for data on cellphones and pic messaging and text messaging and QChat............they need to balance the load and this is a perfect way for Sprint to do it

 

I don't know if the QChat is going to eat up spectrum that much to effect calls.

I don't know how much they are pushing it to get setup and running, but since they plan on leaving Nextel customers where they are for 4-7 years, I don't see it being an overload problem.

Look at how slow AT&T's PTT is going along, QChat is going to be something similar from what I hear & I don't see it taking off before they will have WiMax up & running around the country (if they don't run into money issues ect...)

The only way I can see them adding more people quickly, is by starting to force people from iDEN to it with major incentives, or the keep the plans the same & include it for free.
Most people with cell phones don't really want PTT & don't want to pay more for it.
When we upgraded this weekend, 3 phones have PTT abilities, why would I want to spend more a month to use it, when I have M2M, Early N&W, unlimited SMS?

 

well right now it wont be an overload problem........but do a forecast...........in the future when the remaining Nextel customers migrate to Sprint and start using QChat...........there will be some data overload problems......

and i have heard much differently.........QChat is supposed to be more client-based...........not server-based like all the other PTT services........it will be different and better........i dont care much for PTT cuz all my friends are AT&T Verizon Tmobile or IMMIX........i dont think any of my friends are Sprint............so PTT is nothing to me............but letting them keep their plan will prolli convince most people

 

I agree in the future it may become an issue & that's where I think they have time to get WiMax up & running before it becoming a major concern on network overload.

They may have to get the Nextel people over sooner if it works as good & won't cause a problem to prevent them from leaving for other carriers, with the network problems they are having. (still think they should never had started boost & it is hurting them)

As for the PTT, I have heard it's suppose to be better then what they had in the past as well as Verizon's & AT&T's, but I am in the same boat, other then my County Nextel, I don't know anyone with Nextel to use PTT or anyone with any other carriers PTT service.

 

agree.........but i guess we wont really know hoe good it is until it comes out.....oh well.........but they can get started on preventing future poroblems by finiishing the Rev A upgrades............and starting on WiMax.........

 

SmArTeStChIlD421 they can get started on preventing future problems by finishing the Rev A upgrades

This is a very good point. Sprint seems to adopt the new technology as soon as they can which I like but they end up leaving behind their previous project. Sprint still has a lot of areas with poor or no voice coverage but they turned to EV-DO a couple years back and the voice coverage has only been improved slightly. Now there are still some places that should have EV-DO and they don't but Sprint is going to move on and build a WiMax network. Sprint has the habit of building half a network and then leaving it behind in favor of something new and better.

 

once Rev A upgrade are complete and WiMax has been put into motion...........then they can also consider adding more towers but coverage with roaming is pretty good as it is..........

 

Okay, so will WiMax be put on all existing CDMA/iDEN synergy sites?

Will they finish adding iDEN to all the sites before putting up WiMax?

And will they have the roaming agreement with ClearWire?

 

From what I've heard the WiMax equipment will be housed in existing sites with the addition of new antennas. Most Nextel sites are prime candidates as the floorspace is there, versus Sprint sites which are typically just a row of cabinets mounted outside.

 

divine providence will see it through......:lol:

 

Sprint having EVDO/WiMAX combo capability is a plus, not a minus. Sprint can use EVDO as a backup while Clearwire cannot offer that.

WiMAX won't be truly mobile for a couple years. Sprint is releasing Wave2 chipsets which I believe cannot handoff to towers. So you can move around within a tower but not between w/out a re-connect. EVDO will be a nice backup if in a car or train until Wave3/4 chipsets are released.

WiMAX shouldn't be thought of as a replacement for CDMA though. WiMAX will be able to compete with landline broadband. I'd rather have 2-10Mbs WiMAX that will work anywhere in the metro or where I travel than to have 10Mbps+ fixed cable/dsl/FIOS at home. And EVDO in areas that don't have WiMAX will work out fine.

I've dumped my landline phone for just cellphone last decade. I've dumped my cable modem for EVDO earlier this year. When WiMAX comes along, I'd expect more to dump fixed broadband for the flexibility of mobile broadband.

 

Not all the existing, only where it's needed.

No, the iDEN buildout is effectivly over. Sites that have already received the go head will be finished but I don't see them developing brand new ones anymore.

Probably, it'd be beneficial to both companies.

 

i agree.........WiMax and EV-DO should coexist and back up eachother.........but i still stand by what i said before..........WiMax should be used primarily for laptop and PC data.........because they arent as compressed..........the EV-DO should try to be reserved for cell phone internet and QChat and other messaging services

 

Will there be many/any multimode EVDO/WiMax cards and handsets also with EDGE/HSDPA capabilities?

Sprint goes for a lot of corporate data accounts, but their lack of data cards that can work overseas would seem to be a big disadvantage to landing many accounts. My employer (large company), for example, uses ATT (and some T-mobile) almost exclusively due largely to the global romaing capabilty for handsets, blackberrys, etc provided by GSM platforms. Sprint/Verizon have no real shot at any sizable business with us it seems for this reason.

I don't believe Europe is going toward allowing the same type of mobile WiMax deployment or usage that Sprint will have in the states, so WiMax does not appear to be a bright opportunity for new roaming venues.

 

oh no most def not..........they barely took to UMTS

 

And even if they did pick up on mobile WiMax it'd probably be on a different part of the spectrum.

 

very true.........they are that way for 3G as well.............the frequencies for European UMTS and T-Mobile USA UMTS are the same but they are tweaked differently.............the question is..........who is being different.............us or the Europeans??? :biggrin::browani:

 

The thing is though that most countries around the world use the same frequencies for mobile phones as European countries do.

I'm not sure how Wi-Max will be deployed in Europe, but I remember talk of mesh networks using a combination of Wi-Max, OFDM, GSM, etc. I believe Vodafone is interested in Wi-Max although, as I said, I'm not sure how it will be deployed. As far as I am aware European networks will probably use OFDM for 4G.