- As it gets ready for 5G networking, Sprint (S -5.4%) will focus on small cells using its 2.5 GHz spectrum to pursue improvements, its chief financial officer says.
- Speaking to the Deutsche Bank conference, CFO Tarek Robbiati says Sprint doesn't have enough towers densify enough without leveraging its 2.5 GHz airwaves, "the most efficient spectrum for high-capacity networks."
- Read through competitor literature, he says, and they're pursuing spectrum "almost in microwave territory," because of its efficiency in moving large amounts of traffic.
- The catch is that those frequencies don't propagate far, calling for more cell sites and therefore small cells in addition to macrosites.
- "There are simply not enough tower sites in the country to do what we intend to do," he said. "... You need to think differently."
- Previously: Softbank will bid in the upcoming spectrum auction - sources (Mar. 10 2016)
- Previously: Sprint on rise after news of SoftBank company split (Mar. 07 2016)