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Sprint Poised for 2014 Breakthrough Following Year of Network Advances
[December 16, 2013]

Sprint Poised for 2014 Breakthrough Following Year of Network Advances


OVERLAND PARK, Kan. --(Business Wire)--

This year Sprint (NYSE: S) set the stage for a dynamic 2014 with significant network improvements on behalf of its business customers and consumers. The company's achievements were punctuated by the launch of Sprint (News - Alert) Spark™, a network capability that uses three spectrum frequencies to deliver peak 4G LTE wireless data speeds of 50-60Mbps. Sprint Spark is also expected to deliver significantly improved call quality and clarity as it rolls out HD Voice.

Sprint's 2013 progress is further highlighted by today's announcement of the introduction of LTE (News - Alert) in 70 new markets, which includes Green Bay, Wis; Orlando, Fla; San Diego; and St. Louis, bringing the total number of LTE markets to 300.

These advances are made possible because of the continued rollout of Sprint's Network Vision program in 2013, which includes a complete upgrade of the 3G network and deployment of 4G LTE. As part of that program, Sprint is redeploying its 800MHz spectrum for LTE and 3G with the goal of delivering improved in-building coverage for voice and data.

"In 2013, we made major improvements across our 3G and 4G LTE network," said Bob Azzi, chief network officer. "In the growing number of markets where the upgrades are nearly complete, our customers are noticing. Re-engineering our entire network has been a big undertaking, but now it's delivering tangible benefits to our customers. With the announcement of Sprint Spark, the increasing availability of 4G LTE and the improvements we have made to our voice network, we're full speed ahead for 2014."

These network improvements are designed to serve the immediate and future needs of customers who, using Sprint's market-leading unlimited data, text and calling plans, are constantly embracing new ways to communicate. With the future in mind, Sprint completed a number of corporate and technical milestones during 2013, including:

  • The Clearwire acquisition, which makes Sprint Spark possible by providing access to contiguous 2.5GHz spectrum that enables a powerful combination of speed and capacity uniquely suited for data.
  • The acquisition of spectrum from U.S. Cellular (News - Alert), which significantly increases network capacity in key Midwest markets.
  • The introduction of HD Voice and a target of covering 85 million POPs by the end of 2013.
  • The deployment of in-building systems at key stadiums, airports, concert venues, etc.
  • The transition of iDEN business and government customers to Sprint's 3G CDMA network.

Sprint 4G LTE is now available in 300 markets, including today's additions:





     
-- Abbeville, La. -- London, Ky.
-- Albany, Ga. -- Louisville, Ky.
-- Albertville, Ala. -- Lubbock, Texas
-- Amsterdam, N.Y. -- Madison, Wis.
-- Appleton, Wis. -- Manitowoc, Wis.
-- Augusta, Ga. -- Michigan City, Ind.
-- Bartlesville, Okla. -- Muskegon/Norton Shores, Mich.
-- Big Spring, Texas -- New Iberia, La.
-- Birmingham, Ala. -- Orangeburg, S.C.
-- Boise City, Idaho -- Orlando, Fla.
-- Branson, Mo. -- Ottawa, Ill.
-- Bremerton, Wash. -- Panama City/Lynn Haven/Panama City
-- Brunswick, Ga. Beach, Fla.
-- Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- Pullman, Wash.
-- Columbia, S.C. -- Racine, Wis.
-- Columbus, Ga. -- Richmond/Berea, Ky.
-- Cookeville, Tenn. -- Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
-- Crowley, La. -- Salem, Ohio
-- Danville, Ky. -- San Diego
-- Daphne/Fairhope/Foley, Ala. -- Schenectady/Troy, N.Y.
-- Decatur, Ala. -- Searcy, Ark.
-- Destin, Fla. -- Sebastian/Vero Beach, Fla.
-- El Dorado/Magnolia, Ark. -- Shreveport/Bossier City, La.
-- El Paso, Texas -- Somerset, Ky.
-- Fargo, N.D. -- St. Louis
-- Florence/Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- St. Thomas/St. Croix, U.S. Virgin
-- Gaffney, S.C. Islands
-- Gloversville, N.Y. -- Starkville, Miss.
-- Green Bay, Wis. -- Sumter, S.C.
-- Gulfport/Biloxi/Pascagoula, Miss. -- The Quad Cities (Bettendorf, Iowa;
-- Hickory/Lenoir/Morganton, N.C. Davenport, Iowa; Rock Island, Ill.;
-- Huntsville, Ala. Moline, Ill.; and East Moline, Ill.)
-- Jacksonville, N.C. -- The Villages, Fla.
-- Jamestown/Dunkirk/Fredonia, N.Y. -- Traverse City, Mich.
-- Kalamazoo/Portage, Mich. -- Tuscaloosa, Ala.
-- LaGrange, Ga. -- Twin (News - Alert) Falls, Idaho
-- Lake City, Fla.
-- Little Rock, Ark.
 

About Sprint

Sprint (NYSE:S) offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint served more than 54 million customers at the end of the third quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile (News - Alert) USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.


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