• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Sprint Nextel 'Powers Up' Columbus, Ohio Coverage, Capacity to Its Wireless Networks With an $18 Million Investment

Posted on: Monday, 18 December 2006, 12:00 CST

Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) today announced enhancements to both the Sprint PCS Nationwide Network and the Nextel National NetworkSM in Columbus, Ohio with an investment of over $18 million through the third quarter of 2006. These extensive upgrades are the result of additional wireless cell sites and equipment being added to the networks, delivering additional coverage and network capacity to serve customers.

"The Sprint network team is constantly looking for ways to improve the customer experience in Ohio and throughout the country," said Kevin Gleason, area vice president for Sprint in Ohio. "We strive to make our wireless service the best where our customers live, work and travel."

The following is a detailed list of the several new areas where customers can now take advantage of Sprint Nextel's enhanced network:

SPRINT PCS NETWORK

New coverage created for New Holland

Coverage extended to East of MT. Vernon

Coverage in Pickerington expanded

Expanded coverage north of Newark

New coverage created for Shelby

New coverage created for Hocking Hills area -- West of Logan

New coverage for Hocking Hills State Park -- NE of South Bloomingville

New coverage east of Howard on State Route 36

New Coverage for Martinsburg

New coverage for Brinkhaven

Expanding coverage to Howard

Expanding coverage west of Mansfield

NEXTEL NETWORK

Enhancing coverage for Newark

Enhancing coverage on E. Main Street in Columbus

New coverage for Paint Creek State Park

Expanding coverage in Marseilles between Kenton and Upper Sandusky

Improving coverage in Bucyrus

New coverage provided to McConnelsville,

New coverage in Prospect, OH

Coverage expanded on US 23 between Upper Sandusky and Marion, OH

New coverage for Senecaville Lake

New coverage for Ashley

New coverage for Dresden

Expanded coverage in Northeast Lancaster

Expanded coverage on Rt. 33 between Logan and Nelsonville

New coverage in Sparta

Improved coverage on Morse Rd. & 171

New coverage in Richmond Dale between Chillicothe and Jackson

Improved coverage in Powell

Improved coverage at Ohio State University

By the end of 2006, Sprint will have spent almost $7 billion, much of which has gone to enhance its wireless and IP networks nationwide.

"Customers of the Nextel National Network can expect more enhancements and expansions, reinforcing our commitment to constantly improve and enhance the customer experience," Gleason said. "Our Nextel Walkie-Talkie services connect people coast-to-coast and country-to-country in fewer than one second."

Nextel National Network

The Nextel National Network, one of the largest all-digital wireless networks in the United States, is based on the integrated digital enhanced network (iDEN) always-on technology, which provides the world's fastest and most efficient walkie-talkie service. More people use the Nextel National Network for walkie-talkie calls than any other such service in the world. In 2005, the Nextel Network carried more than 100 billion direct connect calls.

Expansion of the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and EV-DO Rev. A

Sprint offers the most wireless broadband coverage of any carrier through the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, which reaches more than 188 million people nationwide, covering more than 8,700 communities and 780 airports. In late October, Sprint upgraded the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network to high-speed EV-DO (Evolution -- Data Optimized) Revision A technology in San Diego, the first U.S. market to receive EV-DO Rev. A. Since then, EV-DO Rev. A coverage has expanded to 20 markets and more than 60 million people -- which surpassed the previously announced goal of 40 million people by the end of the year.

With EV-DO Rev. A, Sprint Mobile Broadband users should experience average upload speeds about five to six times faster (300-400 kbps compared with 50-70 kbps) than current EV-DO networks. Average download speeds also should increase to 450--800 kbps from 400-700 kbps. By third quarter 2007, Sprint's Mobile Broadband Network is expected to be completely upgraded to the faster EV-DO Rev. A. The upgrade to EV-DO Rev. A is expected to further drive Sprint's wireless data leadership as customers will be able to use the upgraded network to use applications such as all-IP video telephony, high-performance push-to-talk (walkie-talkie service), multi-user video conferencing, real-time gaming and video streaming as they become available. Sprint is the first service provider to deploy EV-DO Rev. A in the United States.

Power Network Coverage Tool Provides Unique View

To help current and prospective customers view coverage information, Sprint launched its Power Network Coverage Tool in early October. This online tool provides detailed coverage maps down to the street address level. By entering an address or ZIP code, customers can check the availability of wireless coverage, recently added cell sites and the network signal strength on the Nextel National Network, Nationwide Sprint PCS Network or Sprint Mobile Broadband Network. The tool is available at www.sprint.com/coverage and at self-service touch-screen kiosks at many Sprint Nextel retail stores.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving more than 51 million customers at the end of third quarter 2006; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category