Sprint teams up with rural carriers to improve its LTE coverage

posted by Alan F. / Sep 08, 2014, 7:31 AM

Sprint teams up with rural carriers to improve its LTE coverage

Sprint is hoping to close some of the gaps in its 4G LTE network, by making deals with rural carriers. 15 such mobile operators have just been tapped by Sprint for the program. Including the original dozen regional carriers that signed with Sprint back in June, there are now a total of 27 such operators involved in the plan. They cover 565,000 square miles and 38 million potential customers.

Sprint's network has gaps in rural areas that these deals are trying to address. In addition to its focus on urban markets, Sprint lost parts of its pipeline when it starting building out its 4G LTE network. The deals are not one-sided. The small rural carriers gain low cost access to Sprint's 4G LTE network, and its customers get the ability to purchase a wide range of handsets from Sprint.

"In just a few short months, Sprint has made significant progress by signing agreements covering 27 regional carriers that serve millions of people across the country. By working together, we will bring mobile broadband and better wireless devices to underserved communities while expanding 4G LTE coverage for Sprint customers."-Michael C. Schwartz, senior vice president of Corporate and Business Development, Sprint

The 27 carriers that have made a deal with Sprint since June, and the areas they cover include: Bluegrass Cellular, serving Kentucky; Blue Wireless, serving New York and Pennsylvania; Pine Belt Wireless, serving Alabama; Pioneer Cellular, serving Oklahoma and Kansas; Public Service Wireless, serving Alabama and Georgia; Syringa Wireless, serving Idaho; Rural Independent Network Alliance (RINA) members and their partners: STRATA Networks, serving Utah, Wyoming and Colorado; Silver Star Wireless, serving Wyoming and Idaho; All West Wireless Inc., serving Wyoming and Utah; NNTC, serving Colorado; Snake River Personal Communications Service, serving Oregon; CTC Telecom Inc., serving Idaho; South Central Communications Inc., serving Utah; Custer Telephone Wireless, serving Idaho and Breakaway Wireless, serving Utah.

source: Sprint

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6 Comments

1. palmguy

Posts: 979; Member since: Mar 22, 2011

Sprint needs to very much. That's why I left them.

posted on Sep 08, 2014, 9:08 AM 0

2. Augustine

Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 2013

This is the way to do it: collaborate with other carriers in order to extend each other's coverage. It's mutually beneficial to the carriers and benefits the consumer. As a matter of fact, this is how it's done in Europe and why the cost for equivalent mobile service across the pond is 30 to 50% less than in the US. For carriers are not wasting capital bidding for spectrum that they never use and building up vast networks alongside other vast networks in the same areas.

posted on Sep 08, 2014, 10:00 AM 1

3. skymitch89

Posts: 1452; Member since: Nov 05, 2010

I could tell that Sprint is doing something. I was in Moscow, ID over the weekend and had LTE coverage on my Note 3; and the closest "official" LTE market was in Pullman, WA. Not only that, on my way home I came across a spot of LTE in the middle of nowhere.

posted on Sep 08, 2014, 10:14 AM 0

4. JEverettnow

Posts: 228; Member since: Mar 11, 2013

I have been getting some incredible LTE speeds on my s5 recently. The HD voice is pure garbage, but the internet speeds have been legit where I have been getting LTE. Now if they can just close the gaps!

posted on Sep 08, 2014, 12:37 PM 0

5. Edward_bly

Posts: 278; Member since: Dec 11, 2013

Hope Sprint can get back on its feet.

posted on Sep 08, 2014, 12:48 PM 0

6. corporateJP

Posts: 2458; Member since: Nov 28, 2009

Wow...too bad a few of these western states are the only places left in the U.S. with small, regional carriers. This doesn't work in most of the U.S., as most regional's are gone.