Sprint says goodbye WiMAX and hello LTE
The end of WiMAX, the first 4G technology in America launched by Sprint and Clearwire in 2008, looks to be two years away.
At the "Sprint Network Vision Strategy Update" in New York, Sprint executives announced the aggressive rollout of a 4G LTE network to the end of 2013, the fastest 4G standard available in the U.S. today offered by both AT&T and Verizon.
Sprint will "continue selling WiMAX devices throughout 2012," said Steve Elfman, president of network operations and wholesale, leaving many to conclude that the WiMAX product roadmap would not go any further.
For an idea of how Sprint's support for LTE will trump WiMAX, Sprint said that by the by end of 2012 it will cover 120 million people and 250 million by the end of 2013.
The announcement adds to a big week for Sprint. The company became the latest carrier to offer the iPhone, joining larger rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless, when Apple unveiled its iPhone 4S on Tuesday. Elfman said he believes the network will be able to handle the increased traffic that comes with the iPhone.
Sprint plans to to launch 15 dual-mode 4G LTE/CDMA smartphone and tablets by mid 2012.
© 2011, tsowen. All rights reserved.
Bad move. Sprint’s just trying to “follow the crowd” – look where that got Microsoft. I’m planning on ditching Boost Mobile (Sprint Prepaid) in favor of a less confused carrier – the last four months have cost sprint every ounce of hope I still had for ‘em.
- 2 Bunny
stoney05 Reply:
October 11th, 2011 at 4:45 am
@2 Bunny,
your crazy if you think Wimax is the way to go. Sprint probably regrets how far they went with it in the first place.
2 Bunny Reply:
October 13th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
@stoney05,
What was actually wrong with it? It might not have been the “best 4G” option, but they started with it, they should’ve stuck with it. A little ways back on the PPCGeeks Podcast, one of the newsies suggested that Sprint adopt both WiMAX and LTE for a diverse network.
- 2 Bunny
saibot Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:49 pm
@2 Bunny, Sprint already planned on adding LTE later. They just used clearwire’s WIMAX to get the first “4G” network. I don’t think Sprint regrets getting the jump on everyone else and forcing the other companies to hurry with LTE and HSPA+. Now Sprint can do LTE for a lower cost.
I thought that some people predicted this move over a year ago to take place… I guess rumors are much better than I originally thought.
My question is this; is this going to be a shared LTE solution or is Sprint rolling out their very own LTE solution, seems everyone is going the LTE route and if all carries are sharing the same LTE solution, wouldn’t this slow down everyone’s data network? Surely it will be their own equipment…
Any ideas?
gTen Reply:
October 8th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
@elephant007, Thing is its gonna cost sprint 2x more then expected. Also, they are semi-sharing. They are building out towers on ground that will be LTE while lightsquared provides satelite LTE, so the answer is both.
elephant007 Reply:
October 9th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
@gTen,
Thank you for the clarification. Another question I have and may not be able to be answered is this… I am in a city that was one of the first to get WiMax, does this mean I’ll be one of the last to get LTE!? HAHA
Probably so, seems that’s the way thing works…
Dear Sprint, Abilene Texas would love to be your LTE test market!
gTen Reply:
October 10th, 2011 at 1:22 am
@elephant007, Actually I think it will be other way around. See they don’t plan to make any wimax/LTE/CDMA devices other the mifi. This means there is no reason to avoid the wimax markets. And it will probably be easier for them to use the wimax equipment for LTE. Also by common trend, Texas seems to get 4g much faster then any other state in the US. look at all the 4g maps, texas has the msot 4g markets for all carriers.
Also to note, once Lightsquared is switched on you will have LTE anywhere in the country. (with high latency of course)
just in time for me upgrade, thank goodness, evo 5g here we come!
how are they going to do this when 3G speeds are still shit in my town and in a couple of towns west of chicago
I’d be Happy with EVDO Rev B
OK, so people like me who tend to keep phones for more than 12 months will be out in the next 12-24 months with a switch over to LTE? Also, will this mean that they will actually be able to get 4G out to more markets faster since more LTE equipment is in the market already thanks to other carriers? I’m just wondering how this effects everyone in general and the wireless market. Also, will this mean that Sprint/Nextel will be moving away from CDMA technology and eventually have phones that can surf and chat like is advertised by other carriers?
Just wondering here. I’ve never really sought out the what’s, why’s and where fores of the different technologies.
inferno14u Reply:
October 9th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
@JohnMcD348, You can already talk and surf with WiMax right now. Also, you can do that with Verizon LTE phones as well. Sprint got caught up with a lot of the mistakes that Clear made and had already been looking at switching to LTE even as they were just starting to roll out WiMax.
Heck, I never even got 4 G…hmmmm
i guess im not going to keep my epic touch as long as i thought once the lte phones come out time to upgrade since this phone wont be able to take advantage of the lte speeds even though i ask a sprint c s rep if it would and she said ” yes youll be fine dont worry about your phone will be able to take advantage of it, it will just take a software upgrade” then i started to laugh at what she said…lol
Does this mean when my epic 4g no longer can get wimax I won’t have to pay the silly $10 a month premium?
gTen Reply:
October 16th, 2011 at 2:09 am
@calitundra, no, the $10 fee is on smartphones, not 4g phones.
chardog Reply:
October 21st, 2011 at 2:19 pm
@gTen, really?
3G phones are smartphones as well.
saibot Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:42 pm
@chardog, It’s not a charge for 4G, never was. It’s for unlimited data. That’s why the everything 450 plans went from 69.99 to 79.99. Basically you’ve already paid for going over the 5GB cap that existed before, but it’s still cheaper that AT&T or Verizon with their 2GB cap.
I’ve been seriously considering switching to Verizon the past few months. I have horrible 3g speeds which occasionally drops to 1x and I’m right outside of a major city. Needless to say we dont have any 4g coverage here at all. Meanwhile, every other carrier including MetroPCS has 4g coverage in the area. I’ve been with Sprint for 5+ years but I dont think I can wait 2 years to possibly get LTE from Sprint. I bought the EVO 4g day 1 and I love the phone but I can get similar phones (Thunderbolt, Bionic) from VZW. And after losing the premier advantages from Sprint, theres really no reason to stay.
saibot Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:40 pm
@Mazzakre, How about because Sprint is still cheaper? Verizon isn’t going to get you any better 3G or 4G. Just going to cost you more and get you a 2GB cap on data.
Oh! This is very cool. I’m upgrading immediately
http://www.techbase.info