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

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

Posted on: Wednesday, 14 March 2007, 09:00 CDT

For Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) wireless customers in Pittsburgh who already take advantage of the company's powerful networks, recent local network enhancements should result in even better wireless service. Sprint added 32 wireless cell sites since September of 2006 to its Nationwide Sprint PCS NetworkSM and Nextel National NetworkSM in the greater Pittsburgh area.

"Sprint continues to make significant investments to increase coverage and capacity in its wireless networks in Pennsylvania and throughout the country," said Mike Cusick, acting area vice president.

Last year, Sprint invested $20 million through September of 2006 in its wireless networks in Pennsylvania.

"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," said Cusick.

The following is a detailed list of the local areas benefiting from these enhancements:

Nationwide Sprint PCS Network

Jeffersonville, Ohio on I70

North of London, Ohio to Deer Creek Village

Circleville on State Route 22

North of Powell, Ohio

Utica, Ohio

Washington Courthouse on State Route 22

Mount Vernon Ohio

Pickerington, Ohio

Newark, Ohio

Shelby, Ohio

Hocking Hills State Park

Nextel National Network

Poverty Ridge Road and County Road 45

State Route 203 (Larue Prospect Road)

State Route 294 and State Route 23 in Harpster, Ohio

County Route 74 in Senacaville, Ohio

County Route 21 and Route 42

Columbus Road, near State Route 161/State Route in Granville Township

US 33 and County Route 26 close to Wolet Road

State Route 31 and County Route 340 (aka Cunningham Arbela Road)

US 35 and County Route 207 in Richmond Dale, Ohio

Along Country Route 123 in Hyatts, Ohio Delaware County

In 2006, Sprint added more than 3,400 cell sites across the country to strengthen performance in both its wireless networks and will add more sites in 2007 than the previous year.

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 again will invest significantly to further enhance its powerful networks.

Power Network Coverage Tool and Sprint Plan Advisor

To help current and prospective customers view coverage information, Sprint provides the Power Network Coverage Tool, which 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 Nationwide Sprint PCS Network, Nextel National 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 and Nextel retail stores. Once coverage is determined, customers can either change or purchase a new service plan using the new Sprint Plan Advisor. This tool, which helps customers make educated decisions about which wireless plan is right for them based on the criteria they provide, is available at www.sprint.com/planadvisor.

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.

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

More News in this Category