Sprint's nextgen network - WiMAX

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

They are announcing it today but Reuters is reporting already it will be WiMAX.

Click here

Will take years to rollout so this doesn't really impact EVDO today. They plan to have the CDMA network up for many years in parallel to WiMAX. When the world goes total VoIP, maybe the CDMA network will shut down - probably 10 years away at least.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Other reports...

http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/mobile-telephony/articles/2166-sprint-chooses-wimax-deploy-25-ghz-spectrum.htm

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2006/08/07/daily6.html

Hopefully we will see EVDO/WiMAX combo cards come out that give access under one Sprint account.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Info on WiMAX...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimax

Interesting tidbit that should make deployment a little easier...

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

This says Sprint will target 2-4Mbps average with WiMAX.

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/08/08/sprint_nextel_announces_4g_wimax_network/

Michael · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject:

So, we know what is being planned for 2008-2009, that is good.

Kind of works nicely, with a new 2 year Mobile Broadband contract now. When that contract is up, it will make sense to see what really is available and then plan accordingly.
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thom72champ · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 4

So does this mean that Sprint will not be expanding the evdo areas very much? Or are the areas showing planned expansion (EVDO)on the sprint coverage map still going to be upgraded to EVDO?
I ask this because the planned EVDO coverage areas are vast.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Sprint still plans to do nearly 100% of network on EVDO Rev A by end of next year. They need it to do QChat, the push-to-talk function that will replace Nextel iDen PTT. The only limiting factor to not do 100% is that they have a couple more affiliates to buy out, iPCS in particular. Once they buyout all, they will likely do 100% of network to DO. DO will still be used for phones while WiMAX will initially target laptops and compete with DSL. When WiMAX starts to rollout, it will take some load off of the DO network.

The nice thing about WiMAX is that connections and accounts will work more like WiFi. You won't buy a device dedicated to a carrier like with DO and there will be no ESN swapping. In a few years, probably all Intel laptops willl have WiMAX built in and not tied to a carrier. So if you get a Sprint WiMAX signal, you could probably just buy access on the spot (like when discovering a pay wifi spot) or setup a monthly account. Sprint said they won't subsidize WiMAX devices like with EVDO and phones. Accounts will work more like WiFi.

BTW, there will likely be WiMAX/CDMA phones, which could allow data and voice at the same time.

WiMAX may eventually replace CDMA/EVDO when VoIP becomes ubiquitous but it's still probably 10+ years out before CDMA/EVDO is gone. WiMAX hasn't even proven itself yet so who knows what impact it will have on CDMA.

Long term? I'll take a wild stab and guess that in 10 years Sprint won't be a cellphone company anymore. They'll be a wireless data company that sub-contracts services, voice, video, whatever. They'll partner with cable companies/Hollywood to deliver video, and someone like Skype to do VoIP, which will form Skynet, which will create The Terminator, which will spawn the end of humanity. Smile

Ben Miller · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:39 pm Post subject:

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Where's this patent? Smile

Ya missed the sarcasm on the Sprint -> Skynet proposal.

It was described to me by a Sprint engineer that the WiMAX device will not be tied to the carrier - he may have been wrong. I'd imagine that EVDO/WiMAX combo cards will have carrier-specific accounts. But it doesn't make sense that Intel laptop chipsets that will be WiMAX/WiFi combo would be carrier specific or not work on the Sprint network.

Ben Miller · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:14 pm Post subject:

I got the sarcasm, but I've just heard too many Skynet/Flux Capacitor/etc. jokes in my time working in IT. I have heard serious proposals about Sprint and the carriers just becoming data providers before and that's why I gave a sincere response.

I would turn the WiMAX idea the other way. Imagine that you are Sprint. Why would you allow generic WiMAX adapters to get on your network? Why not allow generic EVDO adapters on Sprint's network today? The reason is that service providers have to control access to their networks.

Wi-Fi is very different because it is a LAN technology and anyone can own a LAN. Since anyone can own a LAN, it behooves a service provider like T-Mobile to open up their Wi-Fi hotspots so that they can attract as many customers as possible. Nobody is going to have their own WiMAX infrastructure at home. That means there's no benefit to service providers in opening up their networks to allow any WiMAX adapter on.

Now, it is very possible that we will see WiMAX adapters imbedded in laptops, but those will be just like the EVDO and HSDPA adapers that are imbedded in laptops today. They will be configured for use with one service provider. They will most likely not be a generic adapter that can be used with any WiMAX service provider in the world.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

If you have a link to a source that says WiMAX devices will be tied to carriers, would be interesting to see.

Ben Miller · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:53 pm Post subject:

It's such a fundamental principle of WiMAX that I wouldn't even know where to begin. It's like asking for a reference that tells you that SIM cards are tied to one service provider.

I believe the podcast linked from this page mentions it:

http://wifinetnews.com/archives/006790.html

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Well I'm beginning to believe you as I'm finding sources on the importance of 'WiMAX roaming'. Kinda sucks if the case. Is licensed vs. unlicensed spectrum perhaps a factor?

Would rather have a generic WiMAX device that can work on any network. Not a good idea to buy a laptop with embedded devices that ties you to a carrier, as with embedded EVDO.

Ben Miller · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject:

Well, there are unlicensed profiles for WiMAX. They are in high frequencies so it is unlikely that they'll be used for mobile broadband, but they are available.

The fact that mobile-friendly frequencies are licensed rather than unlicensed is one factor. But that is more an effect than a cause. The cause is just that WiMAX was desgined from the ground up as a service provider technology. Once you put something in the hands of service providers, you're going to find certain restrictions.

I'm with you on wanting a generic WiMAX adapter, man. I'd love to have that leverage over Sprint or Verizon to be able to take my adapter to a new network if they start screwing with me.

I also agree with you on the internal laptop adapters. I'd much rather stick with external cards for personal use. If a company were providing laptops for employees, I could see internal WiMAX adapters because you might want to have a large scale business account for your users. For my own personal use, I'd rather have the versatility to buy a card from any service provider.