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Sprint Nextel 'Powers Up' Wireless Coverage, Capacity to Its Networks on the Treasure Coast

Posted on: Friday, 9 March 2007, 09:00 CST

For Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) wireless customers on the Treasure Coast who already take advantage of the company's powerful networks, recent local network enhancements should result in even better wireless service. Sprint added four wireless cell sites within the last six months to its Nationwide Sprint PCS NetworkSM and Nextel National NetworkSM in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach.

"Sprint continues to make significant investments to increase coverage and capacity in its wireless networks in Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties 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 $137 million in its wireless networks in the South Florida market which includes the Treasure Coast. The following is a detailed list of the local areas benefiting from these enhancements:

Nationwide Sprint PCS Network

Stuart, in the area west of Witham Field Airport

Hobe Sound, northeast of Jonathan Dickson State Park

Port St. Lucie, in the area between I-95 and Florida's Turnpike at Becker Road

Vero Beach, in the area south of the Vero Beach Municipal Airport

Nextel National Network

Port St. Lucie, in the area between the Florida Turnpike and US1 at Airoso Boulevard

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 more than 4,000 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. Across the country, thousands of markets -- large and small -- received the benefit of this major investment. 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.

Additionally, the Treasure Coast is among the areas where 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.

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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