AT&T complains that Sprint stopped servicing some areas to piggyback on roaming agreements
The FCC recently abolished its so-called Home Market Rule, which prevented carriers from establishing roaming agreements in markets where they own spectrum, as well as the requirement for carriers to offer data roaming in addition to voice.
The troubled Sprint immediately took advantage of those changes and effectively unwound coverage in Oklahoma and Kansas, leaving the areas serviced by its roaming agreements with competing carriers like AT&T.
Although the rules were meant for facilitating access of rural carriers to coverage, and not large ones with their own spectrum in the area, Sprint still went ahead with what AT&T calls "massive disinvestment" plans, which will undoubtedly allow it to save a few dollars.
AT&T's Bob Quinn commented "Sprint can now use other folks' networks rather than pony up its own investment dollars. Nice work if you can get it", to which Sprint had a wordy reply:
The "disappointing, but not surprising" jab is precious, but AT&T hopes to get the new FCC rulebook overturned later this year by the Washington DC Circuit Court of Appeals.
source: AT&T via TheVerge & KansasCityBusinessJournal
The troubled Sprint immediately took advantage of those changes and effectively unwound coverage in Oklahoma and Kansas, leaving the areas serviced by its roaming agreements with competing carriers like AT&T.
AT&T's Bob Quinn commented "Sprint can now use other folks' networks rather than pony up its own investment dollars. Nice work if you can get it", to which Sprint had a wordy reply:
It's disappointing, but not surprising, that AT&T wants to challenge a consumer's right to access email, the Internet and other mobile broadband services wherever they may travel in the U.S. Along with Verizon Wireless, AT&T is the only other wireless carrier in America which opposes the FCC's pro-consumer data roaming decision from last year.
The facts are that Sprint, as part of its Network Vision program, doubled its 2011 capital investment over 2010 to make tens of thousands of capacity upgrades, resulting in a better wireless experience for its customers. With these network investments, Sprint continues to offer consumers a better value than AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
The facts are that Sprint, as part of its Network Vision program, doubled its 2011 capital investment over 2010 to make tens of thousands of capacity upgrades, resulting in a better wireless experience for its customers. With these network investments, Sprint continues to offer consumers a better value than AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
The "disappointing, but not surprising" jab is precious, but AT&T hopes to get the new FCC rulebook overturned later this year by the Washington DC Circuit Court of Appeals.
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