Sprint gives us its "State of the network" report

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), December 19, 2012 – This year Sprint (NYSE: S) has made a significant investment in its wireless network to better meet the needs of its wireless customers. From the rollout of 4G LTE to the upgrade of thousands of 3G sites across the country to thousands of voice and data capacity additions, Sprint has focused resources and funds to improve its overall network quality and performance. Sprint has hit a deployment stride and is making measurable progress on its goal to bring Network Vision to customers nationwide.

Sprint has launched 4G LTE in 49 markets – including Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Baltimore – and sites are on-air and implementation is under way in hundreds more. In fact, Sprint has announced nearly 150 markets that should see an official LTE launch in the coming months, including 36 markets that have been added today.* Sprint also has implemented 3G service improvements in more than 70 markets, from Asheville, N.C., to Philadelphia and from Hudson, N.Y., to Santa Barbara, Calif.

Through Network Vision, voice quality is enhanced and Sprint customers in upgraded areas are seeing better performance on their smartphones, mobile broadband connection cards and mobile hotspots when using the Sprint 4G LTE and 3G networks. Customers can expect to experience the following performance improvements:

Faster data speeds that enable instant Web access for news updates, HD viewing and game-playing, quicker video downloads and clear video chats.
Better signal strength when making a call or using the Web.
Fewer dropped calls for peace of mind when talking to friends, family or colleagues.
Improved voice quality and less static or background noise when making phone calls.

“With the network investments we made in 2012 and as the only national wireless carrier to offer truly unlimited 4G LTE data plans, we continue to offer better value than our competitors,” said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint. “But our commitment to an exceptional wireless experience doesn’t stop there. We are an aggressive path to complete the rollout of Network Vision, and we expect to accelerate this momentum in 2013.”

Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and now offers service in 49 marketsi. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. For detailed 4G LTE maps, providing coverage information right down to the address, please visitwww.sprint.com/coverage. Customers are encouraged to check back often, as the maps will be updated when coverage in these markets is enhanced.

*Markets slated to receive LTE in the coming months are:
Abbeville, La. Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas
Blytheville, Ark. Brainerd, Minn.
Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk, Conn. Brownsville/Harlingen, Texas
Crowley, La. Dalton, Ga.
Duluth, Minn. Dunn, N.C.
Durham/Chapel Hill, N.C. Eau Claire, Wisc.
Greenwood, S.C. Jackson, Tenn.
La Crosse, Wisc. Lafayette, La.
Lawton, Okla. Little Rock/North Little Rock/Conway, Ark.
Mankato/North Mankato, Minn. Muskogee, Okla.
New Haven/Milford, Conn. New Iberia, La.
North Wilkesboro, N.C. Oklahoma City
Palm Coast, Fla. Pine Bluff, Ark.
Ponca City, Okla. Raleigh/Cary, N.C.
Rochester, Minn. Salinas, Calif.
San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, Calif. Santa Cruz/Watsonville, Calif.
Springfield, Mass. Searcy, Ark.
St. Cloud, Minn. Stillwater, Okla.