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Sprint: AT&T Doesn't Need T-Mobile to Improve Network
Insists Improvements of 600% Can be Made Without

Sprint continues to battle AT&T's $39 billion planned acquisition of T-Mobile by noting that AT&T really doesn't need the deal to improve network performance, something that's at the heart of AT&T's defense of the deal. In a new filing with the FCC (pdf) this week, Sprint argues (not for the first time) that AT&T's network shortcomings are their own fault, noting that Verizon has less spectrum and more users -- yet doesn't run into the kind of issues AT&T has.

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After again highlighting the anti-competitive impacts of the deal, Sprint notes that AT&T could improve wireless network performance some 600% through a series of relatively simple changes in network management.

These suggested changes range from simply speeding up AT&T's belated migration to LTE, and utilizing the significant spectrum holdings AT&T already possesses, including the new spectrum the company will be obtaining from Qualcomm.

Sprint also recommends that AT&T implement more efficient network architecture, much like Sprint is planning to do by significantly upgrading and streamlining cell base stations. Sprint recommends AT&T shift away from macro-cell network architecture toward "heterogeneous network topologies" (see page 73 of the filing).

"AT&T could increase its network capacity by more than 600 percent by 2015 without subjecting the country to the anti-competitive and anti-consumer harms associated with its proposed takeover of T-Mobile,' says SVP for Government Affairs Vonya B McCann. "This capacity increase could more than meet AT&T's projected data service demand growth through and beyond 2015 for a fraction of the cost of its proposed $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile."

"AT&T has not, and cannot, demonstrate that its proposed takeover of T-Mobile is in the public interest," insists Sprint.
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seginus
join:2008-01-30
Wendell, NC

1 recommendation

seginus

Member

Cheap Acquisition

Wow. I have a spare $40 bucks. Maybe I can outbid AT&T.

crazyk4952
Premium Member
join:2002-02-04
united state

crazyk4952

Premium Member

Re: Cheap Acquisition

I'm in for $41!
tman852
join:2010-07-06
Columbus, OH

tman852

Member

I'm heading to Sprint

Jumping ship ASAP to Sprint for phone service anyways. With Verizon's ridiculous price scheme release yesterday, At&t being a turd as it is, and T-mobile essentially non existent where I live, Sprint is the way to go.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Yawn

This merger is a done deal.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: Yawn

Agreed. Spring will be better served by redoubling its focus on upgrading/transitioning its networks and improving support so that it can compete on quality and price....before the merger happens. It's much easier to outpace a speeding train than it is to stop it.

IowaMan
Premium Member
join:2008-08-21
Grinnell, IA

IowaMan

Premium Member

Re: Yawn

I second that, When this deal goes through though, Sprint will have to take on US Cellular, Metro PCS and Cricket in order to have a chance as surviving though me thinks.

DataRiker
Premium Member
join:2002-05-19
00000

DataRiker

Premium Member

Re: Yawn

I can't believe people still pay AT&T their hard earned money.

Your probably right about Sprint though.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9 to IowaMan

Premium Member

to IowaMan
Some M&A for Sprint is likely needed and I don't doubt it will happen. Otherwise, Sprint risks being relegated to the likes of Metro PCS and Cricket.

King P
Don't blame me. I voted for Ron Paul
Premium Member
join:2004-11-17
Murfreesboro, TN

King P to IowaMan

Premium Member

to IowaMan
Don't those 3 regional providers piggy back off of Sprint's network anyway?
Kommie2 (banned)
join:2003-05-13
united state

Kommie2 (banned) to pnh102

Member

to pnh102
I hope not. Direct Tv and Dishnetwork was not aproved. Two DBS providers. Same Standard for the last two GSM.
talz13
join:2006-03-15
Avon, OH

talz13

Member

Re: Yawn

What other consumer competition is there in the residential small-dish satellite market? At least there are Verizon and Sprint and a handful of local carriers in the cell phone market.
Kommie2 (banned)
join:2003-05-13
united state

Kommie2 (banned)

Member

Re: Yawn

Its a televison market. Direct Tv and Dish have competition from C-Band,Cable,Globecast,Uverse,FIOS, and OTA.
talz13
join:2006-03-15
Avon, OH

talz13

Member

Re: Yawn

Ok, I applied a narrow focus to the 'dish TV' vs all tv like I was trying to imply that you did with GSM carriers vs. cellular carriers in general. Thanks for the correction.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless to Kommie2

Member

to Kommie2
Kommie , I definitely see your point and agree with you 100% to bad the paid off members of the FCC don't see it that way! If the TAKEOVER ( lets call it what it really is) does NOT go through I may just have a little faith in the FCC once again.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102 to Kommie2

Premium Member

to Kommie2
said by Kommie2:

I hope not. Direct Tv and Dishnetwork was not aproved. Two DBS providers. Same Standard for the last two GSM.

I hope not as well, but in light of the Comcast-NBC merger, as well as a whole slew of other mergers, I can't help but conclude the worst.
Kommie2 (banned)
join:2003-05-13
united state

Kommie2 (banned)

Member

Re: Yawn

said by pnh102:

said by Kommie2:

I hope not. Direct Tv and Dishnetwork was not aproved. Two DBS providers. Same Standard for the last two GSM.

I hope not as well, but in light of the Comcast-NBC merger, as well as a whole slew of other mergers, I can't help but conclude the worst.

The sad part is the last failed merger was blocked by the Bush Administration, and if Obama's Administration allows this, it will be a damned shame!
ChuckIL9
join:2005-11-07
Peoria, IL

ChuckIL9

Member

People who live in glass houses...

Dear Sprint,

How about showing your own customers some network improvement? Service in downstate Illinois has been abysmal for the last year, and all your reps can say is "we know about it, but don't have a date when the problem will be fixed".

dib22
join:2002-01-27
Kansas City, MO

dib22

Member

Re: People who live in glass houses...

I was thinking the exact same thing... hey Sprint... what about all your un-used spectrum? Doctor cure thy-self... and while your at it... how about bringing back some of your recent dropped tower locations, and hey why not add some back-haul to the towers you do have
MaynardKrebs
We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.
Premium Member
join:2009-06-17

MaynardKrebs

Premium Member

Sprint should send AT&T a bill....


....for the consulting...
en103
join:2011-05-02

1 recommendation

en103

Member

Not that I disagree with Sprint's statement but....

Didn't Sprint purchase Nextel for its user base, cell sites and spectrum (and have the gov't give them more for clearing out some of the SMR band as well ?). Sprint effectively covered its urban areas with a LOT of sites due to its purchase of Nextel in a short period of time. AT&T is attempting to do this as well.

I'll agree with a lot of Sprint's statements that AT&T 'could' have no issues if they invested and deployed spectrum/backhaul vs. becoming a spectrum squatter.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Not that I disagree with Sprint's statement but....

said by en103:

Didn't Sprint purchase Nextel for its user base, cell sites and spectrum (and have the gov't give them more for clearing out some of the SMR band as well ?). Sprint effectively covered its urban areas with a LOT of sites due to its purchase of Nextel in a short period of time. AT&T is attempting to do this as well.

I'll agree with a lot of Sprint's statements that AT&T 'could' have no issues if they invested and deployed spectrum/backhaul vs. becoming a spectrum squatter.

Yes, Sprint's suggestions are all well founded. Too bad they are taking so long to follow their own advice.

Bugger
@rr.com

Bugger to en103

Anon

to en103
Yeah, but didn't AT&T tell us as recently as a few months back that they cover 97% of all Americans? At the time when Sprint and Nextel merged there were far more wireless carriers in play and the combined entity did not become the behemoth AT&T would become (and arguably already is). If consolidation is in order, Sprint should buy T-Mobile and offer a third alternative to the Ma-Bell fat toddlers.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: Sprint should buy T-mobile...

That is what sprint originally wanted to do, I believe there pre-merger statement was they were going to bid somewhere in the $8-10 Billion market. So was Google and Vodafone with offers around the same ballpark or just a bit higher ( I believe Vodafone would have won). However before anyone could get there ducks in a row sort-to- speak ATT jumped in and offered and over the top $39 Billion! So you know what that means....." money talks, and B.S. walks!"
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin to en103

Member

to en103
said by en103:

Didn't Sprint purchase Nextel for its user base, cell sites and spectrum (and have the gov't give them more for clearing out some of the SMR band as well ?). Sprint effectively covered its urban areas with a LOT of sites due to its purchase of Nextel in a short period of time. AT&T is attempting to do this as well.

I'll agree with a lot of Sprint's statements that AT&T 'could' have no issues if they invested and deployed spectrum/backhaul vs. becoming a spectrum squatter.

You're comparing oranges and apples. AT&T's executives are on record stating the cause of their network issues was the result of cutting capex (to pump up their stock price).

They claimed to their shareholders they could fix the problems by increasing capex again.

Somehow spending $38 billion on T-Mobile, a 100+% premium, doesn't seem like the best way to improve a network.
en103
join:2011-05-02

en103

Member

Re: Not that I disagree with Sprint's statement but....

I don't disagree. This is effectively (assuming it would work) spectrum, customer and network grab in one swoop. Kind of like what Sprint did with Nextel. Like the Sprint/Nextel deal, I don't think it will go over well with the existing customers, and T-Mobile subs will flee.
willzzz
join:2007-05-23
NY

willzzz

Member

ATT--;

NOTHING LIKE PURE SCIENCE!

BOO YAH AT&T!

Neosum
Premium Member
join:2000-06-03
Oakland, CA

Neosum

Premium Member

Sprint knows best?

Sprint seems to think they know about network improvement when it comes to analyzing another company. Perhaps they should focus on themselves and how they can reclaim lost subscribers rather than be jealous of a more successful company.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: Sprint knows best?

said by Neosum:

Sprint seems to think they know about network improvement when it comes to analyzing another company. Perhaps they should focus on themselves and how they can reclaim lost subscribers rather than be jealous of a more successful company.

Yes because AT&T gained their market share purely through success, marketing, and high-quality products.

Oh wait, they actually gained their market share by buying up all their competitors and decreasing the quality of their product.

And Sprint "jealous" you say? All Sprint cares about is making money. If AT&T buys out T-mobile their competitors, especially Sprint, will be at a huge disadvantage.

iLive4Fusion
Premium Member
join:2006-07-13

iLive4Fusion

Premium Member

So easy huh?

If its so easy, then why hasn't Sprint already implemented this? Their network is worse than AT&T's.

King P
Don't blame me. I voted for Ron Paul
Premium Member
join:2004-11-17
Murfreesboro, TN

King P

Premium Member

Re: So easy huh?

Ok, totally subjective statement, but Sprint's network here is pretty awesome, plus it's covered by 4G.

iLive4Fusion
Premium Member
join:2006-07-13

iLive4Fusion

Premium Member

Re: So easy huh?

But the problem is they are not expanding their 4G and are falling behind even AT&T.

•••
en103
join:2011-05-02

en103 to King P

Member

to King P
It doesn't even hit the north end of Los Angeles with 4G. VZW's LTE goes a couple of miles further to the city limits, but that's still 5 miles short for me.

sk1939
Premium Member
join:2010-10-23
Frederick, MD
ARRIS SB8200
Ubiquiti UDM-Pro
Juniper SRX320

sk1939

Premium Member

T Mobile Wellness Call

I actually got a call from T Mobile yesterday to thank me for my business and to check and see if everything was going smoothly. I asked about the proposed buyout with AT&T and how it would affect users, and they told me that people would be grandfathered in, but beyond that they don't know. AT&T buying T-Mobile is just such a bad idea I can't even being to start talking about it.

••••
decifal7
join:2007-03-10
Bon Aqua, TN

decifal7

Member

nextel

When sprint fully converts their nextel towers over to pure sprint, i'm jumping on board with them! I can freaking see the nextel tower here from my porch! I wonder how just 3g data would work using it..
zeddlar
join:2007-04-09
Jay, OK

zeddlar

Member

Re: nextel

Sprint might be pretty awesome if you live within 5 miles of a major city or major highway, otherwise your screwed. at least where I live it is that way. I don't agree with AT&T buying out T-Mobile and in fact I personally would be perfectly happy if AT&T went under tomorrow but Sprint needs to realise people might want to use thier service somewhere besides at the store or on the road.
gorehound
join:2009-06-19
Portland, ME

gorehound

Member

ATT Fix your own Network

ATT you are so full of shit.Instead of crying foul why not fix your own network.why do you need to buy this other company to fix your network.

you are full of it and us techies know this.invest your big ass profits into your own business.we do not need your merger.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

BS

Spectrum is limited, and AT&T can't just put up towers with no permits. T-Mobile is a good acquisition for them.