Rapid deployment of 4G LTE networks in the country has prompted Sprint Nextel to acquire LTE capability at the earliest. Based on sources familiar with the situation, CNET News reports that Sprint Nextel is already in the process of installing LTE equipment and has also been field testing the network in select areas. As per the CNET News report, Sprint is hoping to launch the commercial service by early next year.
According to CNET News, the LTE rollout is part of the company's broader Network Vision plan. With the costs already accounted for in its prior forecast, the LTE network won't require any additional capital investment, wrote CNET.
CNET News reporter Roger Cheng wrote, “The accelerated deployment underscores how critical it is for the carriers to keep pace with rapidly evolving wireless technology… While Sprint long enjoyed a technical and speed advantage over its rivals through its partnership with Clearwire and its 4G WiMax network, much of that edge has faded as Verizon Wireless surpassed it with a wider deployment of its own faster LTE network,” noted Cheng in his report.
As per the CNET News report, Sprint's 4G LTE network would give the carrier a network on par with Verizon. By employing LTE technology, it will be able to tap into a larger pool of vendors already racing to build 4G devices and equipment at a lower price. The additional network will also allow Sprint to offload some of its 3G data traffic onto 4G, relieving a growing burden, wrote Cheng.
A source told CNET that Sprint is hoping to launch the LTE service by late Q1 2012 or early Q2. The official 4G announcement from Sprint is expected next week at a Sprint event.
The company is using FD-LTE hardware, which is the same as Verizon and LightSquared. This is all part of Sprint’s Network Vision plan to place 3G and 4G hardware together to boost voice data and push to talk services. In fact, On Tuesday, Sprint also announced a Sunday, Oct. 2, launch date for Sprint Direct Connect, ushering in the next generation of push–to-talk service from the company that pioneered push–to-talk. Sprint Direct Connect will come packed with broadband data capabilities, familiar push-to-talk features, rugged and reliable handsets, and a broadening push-to-talk coverage map expected in early 2012.
Ashok Bindra is a veteran writer and editor with more than 25 years of editorial experience covering RF/wireless technologies, semiconductors and power electronics. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by
Rich Steeves 
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