Sprint plans to add support for 700MHz Band 12 in some of its devices beginning next year. Sprint does not own any 700MHz spectrum, but hopes to use the 700MHz capabilities to forge better roaming agreements with small, regional carriers.
It is part of Sprint’s larger plan to expand the reach of its network through partnerships with competitors, such as the Competitive Carrier Association’s Data Access Hub. Some of the carriers that support 700MHz Band 12 include U.S. Cellular and C Spire Wireless. Additionally, AT&T has agreed to support 700MHz Band 12 thanks to the FCC’s interoperability agreement. Separately, Sprint has forged a partnership with NetAmerica and will together launch a project called the Smart Market Alliance for Rural Transformation.
The partnership will operate similar to Verizon Wireless’s LTE Rural America program in that Sprint will license its unused 800MHz and 1900MHz spectrum to NetAmerica members that want to build LTE networks of their own. Companies that choose this path will also have the option of using Sprint’s core network. Regional carriers that build LTE using Sprint’s spectrum will be able to provide their own customers with roaming on Sprint’s network, and vice versa.
The program helps Sprint as much as it does smaller carriers, as Sprint doesn’t offer coverage in many rural areas.
