Sprint PCS May Lose Large Chunks Of its Network

But Sprint didn't build all of their network. You've commented that their affiliates have equal service so Sprint didn't build everything. Sprint made a PCS network with the help of others (like T-Mobile), using their own licences (like T-Mobile), aquiried from outside sources (like T-Mobile).

 

From the ground up? Seems like they are going from the ground down... about 6 feet or so.

 

Ha ha. Sprint PCS isn't going away. They have too much brand recognition. One must hand it to their marketing division. They really know how to promote the service. I've always been suprised at how many customers Sprint has been able to get. In MA, their coverage is far inferior to everyone elses (including ATT's recently launched GSM network). The reason's that I see to use Sprint are to go with the no-contract option for an extra $10/mo., the ability to upgrade phones at retail prices, or the fact that they don't have nearly the fee for poor credit as Verizon or Cingular do. Well, those and the cool ads.

 

Sprint did build their network by themselves because the licenses used by their affiliates belonged to them. It's the same network with the same billing, customer service, plans, etc. Sprint's affiliates networks are not considered different than Sprint for this reason. However if you look at what T-Mobile did to build their network, it consists of mergers and acquistions of existing companies (such as Omnipoint & Aerial) as well as partnerships with other carriers who had their own spectrum and already had done the work. Sprint did not buy out anyone who already had an established network with the one small exception of PrimeCo in Honolulu, HI back in 1999.

In fact Sprint actually helped out T-Mobile by selling them their old GSM properties in Baltimore and Washington DC.

Here is my definition of who built the largest PCS network: The carrier who built the largest footprint from scratch using their own original spectrum licenses. T-Mobile clearly did not use their own licenses to build a good portion of their current system. Neither did AT&T, Verizon, or Cingular. Sprint and Nextel are the only carriers who did.

Again not that any of this matters, but a fact is a fact and that is why Sprint is being accurate and fair when they make the claim of building the largest all digital network from the ground up.

 

I think my point was that Sprint didn't build all of their network. You seem to be using built for physical construction and they didn't "build" all of their network. Their affiliates built a lot of it.

Secondly, you say that they bought a Hawaiian company.

It really doesn't matter though.

 

But they set up their affiliates with licenses and made it possible for them to build it and set build out requirements for them. In my opinion that's the same thing as building it themselves and it's certainly different than acquiring an already established network from a different company who had different spectrum.

They did buy out PrimeCo in Hawaii back in 1999 but that was very small. As far as I know that's the only purchase they made of an existing system. You could also argue the fact that one of their affiliates called Horizon PCS shares a certain number of towers with Ntelos who became a Sprint affiliate a few years back. Many of those sites did exist before they became a network partner.

 

Larry would take this argument to the grave. Just leave it here

 

And jayc would never give Sprint credit for anything

 

I am confused, I still don't know who this Sprint is you talk of lol

 

You might have to move back to So. Cal and then you will.

 

I am next year

 

I give them credit for using CDMA... and the guy in the black trenchcoat reminds me of big brother.

 

Where are the problems. They are over their! C'mon. "there problems"

EDIT: On a more serious note (barely), I like the guy in the trenchcoat. I'd like to see an episode of those comercials that deals with the letter "s." Like, "I told him to sit on the couch..." "Was he using a Sprint PCS phone? It's the EVRC codec. It can't handle certain sounds well. . ."