(Accedian Networks') EtherNEWS Blog

Sprint announced plans to expand its push-to-talk feature more broadly on its 3G CDMA network in the fourth quarter of 2011. As part of the launch, Sprint will offer an initial set of handsets with features designed for workgroups that rely on push-to-talk. Sprint also is launching a new push-to-talk brand called “Sprint Direct Connect.”

Sprint Direct Connect service is described by Sprint as a tangible benefit of Network Vision, Sprint’s blueprint to deploy a revamped network capable of supporting CDMA, WiMAX and LTE from a single set of base stations. Network Vision is expected to “consolidate multiple network technologies into one seamless network” with better coverage, quality and speed; better network flexibility; reduced operating costs; and improved environmental sustainability, Sprint says. See http://newsroom.sprint.com/news/sprint-announces-network-vision-network-evolution-plan.htm.

Sprint’s $5 billion network modernization program might also save the company a huge amount of money: possibly $10 billion to $11 billion over seven years. That would be reason enough to pursue the upgrade. will decrease the number of the carrier’s cell sites from 66,000 to 46,000, the company’s CFO has said.

More important are the potential strategic options, such as allowing Sprint the ability to deploy its own Long Term Evolution network, on its own facilities and using its owned spectrum, instead of relying on Clearwire facilities, even though Sprint owns 54 percent of Clearwire.