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Sprint Nextel 'Powers Up' Wireless Coverage, Capacity to Its Networks in Southwest Florida

Posted on: Thursday, 8 March 2007, 09:00 CST

For Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) wireless customers in Southwest Florida who already take advantage of the company's powerful networks, recent local network enhancements should result in even better wireless service. Sprint added 11 wireless cell sites in the last six months to its Nationwide Sprint PCS NetworkSM and Nextel National NetworkSM in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties.

"Sprint continues to make significant investments to increase coverage and capacity in its wireless networks in Ft. Myers, Naples and throughout the country," said Bob Halcrow, area vice president, Florida. "Customer satisfaction and network quality are two of Sprint's top priorities as we further strengthen our powerful networks where our customers live, work, play and travel."

Last year, Sprint invested more than $41 million in its wireless networks in the Southwest Florida market. The following is a detailed list of the local areas benefiting from these enhancements in the past 6 months:

Nationwide Sprint PCS Network

Port Charlotte, near the area of Charlotte Sports Park

Punta Gorda, northeast of the Babcock Webb Wildlife area

Englewood, along McCall Road and Pine Street

Ft. Myers, near the Whiskey Creek Country Club

Bonita Springs, in the area east of I-75 at Bonita Beach Road

Naples, west of Collier Boulevard between Davis Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road

Sanibel Island, along Periwinkle Way

Nextel National Network

Ft. Myers, near Whiskey Creek Country Club

Lee County, Southwest Florida International Airport

Lehigh Acres along Joel Blvd near the Admiral Lehigh Golf Club

Englewood along McCall Road and Pine Street

Bonita Springs, near the Coconut Point Shopping Plaza

In 2006, Sprint added more than 3,400 cell sites across the country to strengthen performance in both of its wireless networks. This year, the company expects to add 4,800 cell sites.

Sprint also exceeded a 2006 goal of adding 800 permanent generators at critical Florida cell sites. The network team, in fact, installed more than 1,000 generators across the state by the end of last year with plans to install 1,100 more in 2007.

Increased Network Investment in 2007

Sprint spent more than $7 billion in capital expenditures in 2006, most of which was invested to enhance its wireless and wireline networks nationwide. This year, Sprint will invest nearly $8 billion to further enhance its powerful networks and expand mobile broadband coverage.

The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and EV-DO Rev. A

Sprint offers the largest wireless broadband network of any carrier through the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, which reaches more than 209 million people across the country and covers more 10,000 cities and 1,000 airports. In many major cities, Sprint has upgraded the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network with higher-speed EV-DO (Evolution -- Data Optimized) Revision A technology. Sprint's industry-leading EV-DO Rev. A coverage now reaches more than 109 million people and covers 4,600 cities and 378 airports. With EV-DO Rev. A, users should experience significantly faster average data upload speeds of 350 to 500 kbps (compared with 50-70 kbps on current EV-DO networks). Average download speeds should increase to 600 kbps to 1.4 mbps (from 400-700 kbps). By year end, the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network is expected to be completely upgraded to the faster EV-DO Rev. A. Southwest Florida is scheduled to receive this enhanced service by the end of the second quarter of 2007.

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 53.1 million customers at the end of 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

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