Where's C Spire's LTE Network? Apple iPhone Deal May Have Cost Them Network Cash In 2010 C Spire Wireless ( formerly Cellular South insisted they'd have a new LTE network up and running by the end of 2011. That didn't happen. As last year rolled on the company became more vague about an LTE timeline, putting more PR emphasis on the improvements they'd made to their EVDO network. Fierce Wireless notes that the company's LTE ambitions may have taken a hit for several reasons. The huge premium they had to pay to get the iPhone may have seriously damaged deployment funding, already tight from having to buy and test more expensive gear using 700 MHz spectrum in the band class 12 range. C Spire's CEO will only state the company is "working diligently toward" LTE, but the company refuses to give any solid timeline.
|
 jimkPremium
join:2006-04-15
Raleigh, NC Reviews:
 ·voip.ms
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| LTE with smaller providers US Cellular skipped the iPhone, saying that the economics didn't work for them at the time. It appears that they on track for LTE (just slightly delayed... maybe they are trying to avoid Verizon's reliability problems).
It will be interesting to see how this turns out. The iPhone is very popular, but long term network investments are probably even more important, especially as Android continues to improve. | |
|  | | | Re: LTE with smaller providers I agree with you, but...
C Spire's reasoning may be this: Getting the iPhone will get them customers. Yes, the cost could delay LTE, but, as long as they can get it built before the new iPhone users' contracts are up, there's a good chance those customers will choose to upgrade to an LTE device and stay where they are instead of jumping to another carrier. And if, in the meantime, other carriers get the iPhone, that could actually work in C Spire's favor by diluting the iPhone's value and allowing them to negotiate a better deal with Apple to keep it. In fact, if I were C Spire management, I might actually hope the iPhone doesn't get an LTE version right away, as I'd prefer to move customers who want LTE to Android. That would also allow the company to demand a better deal from Apple.
And there are some places in Mississippi where C Spire could be the only 3G provider, which would mean customers in those areas who want an iPhone with usable data would have to come to them. And, in those places, I think that C Spire will be the first LTE carrier, even with a delayed rollout, so it will be easier for them to move existing customers to LTE as opposed to having to lure them from another carrier.
C Spire certainly took a risk, and it might not pay off, but I can see some logic in it. | |
| | | jimkPremium
join:2006-04-15
Raleigh, NC Reviews:
·voip.ms
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: LTE with smaller providers said by ISurfTooMuch:And there are some places in Mississippi where C Spire could be the only 3G provider, which would mean customers in those areas who want an iPhone with usable data would have to come to them. And, in those places, I think that C Spire will be the first LTE carrier, even with a delayed rollout, so it will be easier for them to move existing customers to LTE as opposed to having to lure them from another carrier.
That is an excellent point as well. C Spire is in a position where they don't have to have the latest and greatest technologies, since they offer service where nobody else works very well if at all.
In some ways, US Cellular is in a similar position. They have a great network in most of the areas that they serve, often better than Verizon. Their rates, customer service, and upgrade / support policies are better than VZW or AT&T as well. They don't have a history at being the first to do make any major technical transitions, but when they do, they generally get it right. Honestly I'm surprised to see them moving to LTE this quickly.
In the end it seems like both carriers are trying to accomplish the same thing in different ways. US Cellular is trying to get ahead on a technical stand point, possibly because they have tougher competition in some areas. C Spire is trying to get the business now which will help fund the network improvements. | |
| | | | | | Re: LTE with smaller providers Not only that, but the iPhone could help them in a less obvious way. A few years ago, Cellular South bought Corr Wireless, a regional GSM carrier in northeast Alabama. However, since it uses GSM and their big network uses CDMA, they can't give customers access to both networks with most phones. However, the iPhone can do both CDMA and GSM, at least the CDMA version can. So, if they really wanted to, they could use it to begin to integrate the two networks. Users on the CDMA network could use it on the former Corr GSM network, and customers in Corr areas can use it on the CDMA network, should C Spire choose to sell it in these areas. | |
| | | | | BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH | Re: LTE with smaller providers Is it technically possible to run it on both with one number yet? | |
| | | | | | | said by ISurfTooMuch:Not only that, but the iPhone could help them in a less obvious way. A few years ago, Cellular South bought Corr Wireless, a regional GSM carrier in northeast Alabama. However, since it uses GSM and their big network uses CDMA, they can't give customers access to both networks with most phones. However, the iPhone can do both CDMA and GSM, at least the CDMA version can. So, if they really wanted to, they could use it to begin to integrate the two networks. Users on the CDMA network could use it on the former Corr GSM network, and customers in Corr areas can use it on the CDMA network, should C Spire choose to sell it in these areas.
They either need to upgrade CORR's network to either UMTS or CDMA w/ EVDO Rev. A because their network is ridiculous right now. I tried my friend's unlocked iPhone 4S running on CORR and it was getting 22kbps because their entire GSM network is GPRS, not even EDGE. Verizon has LTE in a good part of the state and great 3G, and AT&T has 3G in about 75% of the state now. GPRS is just too slow. | |
| | | | | | NWOhio
join:2011-10-25
Toledo, OH | Re: LTE with smaller providers And yet they claimed the ATT-TMO deal would have been death to them. Sounds like they're killing their own company. | |
| | | | | | | | | Re: LTE with smaller providers said by NWOhio:And yet they claimed the ATT-TMO deal would have been death to them. Sounds like they're killing their own company.
Yep, and now being late to the game and potentially not having enough funds, they basically are teetering between the ground and an edge of a cliff.. | |
|
| | |  AMDUSERPremium
join:2003-05-28
Earth
kudos:1
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by jimk:said by ISurfTooMuch:And there are some places in Mississippi where C Spire could be the only 3G provider, which would mean customers in those areas who want an iPhone with usable data would have to come to them. And, in those places, I think that C Spire will be the first LTE carrier, even with a delayed rollout, so it will be easier for them to move existing customers to LTE as opposed to having to lure them from another carrier.
That is an excellent point as well. C Spire is in a position where they don't have to have the latest and greatest technologies, since they offer service where nobody else works very well if at all. In some ways, US Cellular is in a similar position. They have a great network in most of the areas that they serve, often better than Verizon. ... That depends on your area... around here [and in my house- without moving an inch] the calls would drop without warning.. that was about 5 years ago... when a relative tried them; the coverage map is a little off. | |
|
| | | | BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH | Re: LTE with smaller providers Their LTE coverage map in Maine is ASTOUNDING. They pretty much own that place. | |
|
| | | You mean AT&T's epic disaster with the iphone.
Verizon's network is handling the iphone and every other subscriber just fine actually. | |
| | | ssavoyPremium
join:2007-08-16
Henrietta, NY | Re: LTE with smaller providers If you don't count pathetically slow 3G and numerous nationwide LTE network outages I guess you're right. | |
| | | jimkPremium
join:2006-04-15
Raleigh, NC Reviews:
·voip.ms
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by Telco:Verizon's network is handling the iphone and every other subscriber just fine actually.
I was talking about VZW's nationwide LTE outages... 4 in one year. My reliability comment had nothing to do with the iPhone or the 3G network (which is somewhat slow because it is an older technology than AT&T or T-Mobile's networks).
And like all carriers, VZW does have coverage and capacity issues in some areas. No network is perfect everywhere. In general, people seem to be happy with it, but there are major trouble spots that aren't getting the attention they deserve. | |
|
NWOhio
join:2011-10-25
Toledo, OH | C-Spire & Sprint put all their cash behind the iPhone and are not facing what's gonna happen. NO network upgrades. If they wouldn't have spent all the money on trying to gain customers using the iPhone crazy and suing to stop the T-TMO-USA deal they'd also have money with that.
Now let the two companies sink together and be done with it. The only thing that will fix these companies is trying to get some cash else where but we know that won't happen with Sprint as one of their major shareholders of Clear is already backing out and moving to Cellco Partnership with their services and more will follow. | |
| | acrowl
join:2001-08-08
California, KY | Re: C-Spire & Sprint With all do respect, you are clearly not aware of the network buildout that Sprint is undergoing. A simple google search of "Sprint Network Vision" will show you that Sprint is spending a ton on network buildout this year and next year.
When Sprint is complete with their network modernization plan, they will actually be sitting better than both Verizon and AT&T. They have developed a new base station that will operate on their 700MHz, 800MHz, 1.9GHz and 2.5GHz (Clearwire) frequency holdings. They are in the process of winding down their iDEN product and building out a LTE footprint. This new base station will allow them to upgrade to new technologies quicker. One box for all those bands means less footprint they have to rent from the tower guys. On top of the electric savings they will have.
Sprint no doubt is behind in 4G coverage now. But that was because they committed to a technology before LTE was fully "baked. That was a mistake in hindsight. But when Intel was throwing money at you, it was probably pretty hard to not say yes at the time.
As far as Cell South (or what ever they call themselves now), the game is only going to get tougher for them. They clearly made the choice that a iPhone is what their customers wanted. LTE was not as high a priority at this particular time. Plus, throw in the fact that the band they use for LTE is different than Verizon. I bet their product team lays awake at night.
The next few years are going to get quite interesting. I think that we as consumers are going to be in for a fun ride. | |
|
| |
|
|
·
·