What Will Sprint Reveal of its 4G Plans?

Sprint may not show its full 4G hand Thursday, but Mizuho Securities is predicting an update on the 'Network Vision' strategy on the Q2 call

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

July 27, 2011

2 Min Read
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Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) may talk more about its "Network Vision" base station upgrade plan on its second-quarter earnings call Thursday but hold off on a 4G strategy update until later this year, according to Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

Sprint is widely expected to start supporting 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) -- along with WiMax and 3G CDMA -- as part of its Network Vision multi-modal base station update. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has previously only talked broadly about future partnerships, even as LightSquared backer Philip Falcone reportedly sent investors at the Harbinger Capital Partners LP fund a letter saying that the 4G upstart had a Sprint deal in the bag back in June.

Michael Nelson, executive director of equity research in telecom services at Mizuho, writes in a research note Wednesday that Hesse & Co. will hold off on a 4G announcement for now but expects some kind of strategy update Thursday:

  • We expect Sprint to provide an update to its Network Vision project as part of the earnings call, but expect the company to make a separate announcement regarding its 4G strategy later this year. Over time, we expect Sprint to enter into multiple network hosting agreements, which should increase flexibility and offset much of the cost associated with Sprint's network upgrade. Sprint can potentially leverage multiple parties and increase the company's available spectrum and bandwidth.



Sprint's current WiMax partner Clearwire LLC (Nasdaq: CLWR) will very likely be part of any ongoing 4G strategy. "Every option that we’re looking at includes WiMax and Clearwire," Sprint's Hesse said in March. "I think we should do more network sharing with Clearwire; we're just beginning to put that network equipment in place."

Why this matters
Sprint was the first operator in the U.S. to offer its "4G Now" service but is the only one remaining of the big three mobile providers not to have officially made a move to LTE yet.

For more
Read up on Sprint's 4G option anxiety:

  • Sprint Maintains Silence on LightSquared Deal

  • Network Polygamy Ahead for Sprint?

  • LightSquared Reportedly Seals Sprint Deal

  • Sprint/LightSquared Deal Expected Soon

  • Sprint's Hesse on LightSquared & Clearwire

  • Sprint's 4G Options in Flux

  • LightSquared Needs Sprint in its Race to 4G

  • What is Sprint Playing at With 4G?

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile

About the Author

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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