It’s official. Sprint today announced plans to expand their Sprint Power Vision (EV-DO) network. Sprint says their high speed EV-DO system now covers over half of the U.S. population with mobile broadband data services.
By year end 2006, Sprint says it expects to reach 190 million people nationwide and in Puerto Rico, making it the largest mobility network of its kind.
Sprint will concurrently implement second-generation technology upgrades later this year known as EV-DO Revision A, to bring additional mobility benefits to users beginning in 1Q 2007. Sprint plans to reach about 220 million people in the U.S. with the advanced network by the end of 3Q ‘07.
Sprint’s Power Vision network, claims to cover over 150 million people and serve customers in 215 communities with at least 100,000 population, as well as 470 airports across the country. Handsets and EV-DO cards average download speeds equivalent to DSL (400-700 kbps).
EV-DO Revision A, boosts downstream to 3.1 Mbps (from 2.0) with peak upload data rates increase to 1.8 Mbps (from 144 kbps). Average download speeds improve to 450-800 kbps (from 400 -700) and average uplink speeds become 300 - 400 kpbs (versus 70 - 144 kpbs).
Wireless broadband customers can currently access the mobility network with Sprint’s PocketPC phone (the PPC 6700) and Sprint PCS Connection Cards including the Novatel Wireless 620 and Sierra Wireless 580 and PC 5740. Consumer data devices include Sprint Power Vision phones from Samsung (A900 and A920) and the MM 7500 by Sanyo.
Additional information on Sprint’s Mobile Broadband network and access devices can be found at www.sprint.com/wirelesshighspeeddata. The Communications Insider is a terrific new Podcast by Sprint. It features a variety of insider info on business applications and technologies.
Verizon is also testing EVDO Revision A and hopes to offer VoIP and more multimedia services.
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