5 ms·

I am cautiously optimistic. To get some context for what the new Sprint/T-Mobile might do, it's worth watching this fantastic interview of Masayoshi Son, CEO o

I am cautiously optimistic. To get some context for what the new Sprint/T-Mobile might do, it's worth watching this fantastic interview of Masayoshi Son, CEO of Softbank (majority owner of Sprint). http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/29/5761020/i-love-america-and-i-want-to-buy-t-mobile http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/29/5761020/i-love-america-and... He compares American internet to Chinese air pollution, goes on to lambast Comcast, and admit how bad Sprint's network is and how much work there is ahead.

jychang 12y ago
I'm curious of the technical side of things, though. Sprint is CDMA, Tmobile is GSM. That doesn't mix well, at least compared to a ATT/Tmobile merger. As a current Tmobile user, I'd like to keep the ability to switch out SIM cards, but if Sprint buys out Tmobile and replaces it with their network, that may not be possible.
- sargun 12y ago
  Sprint is going LTE, so is T-mobile.
- notatoad 12y ago
  Aren't both CDMA and GSM legacy technologies at this point? It's all about the LTE and VoLTE going forward.
  - Churipapiau 12y ago
    Think about all the countries without LTE, if you travel to one and want to get a local SIM card (since it's usually cheaper) you're gonna need those GSM bands.
- akiselev 12y ago
  4G LTE is based on GSM technology so as devices get more and more bandwidth heavy most of the network load will be on GSM derived technology. There are likely infrastructure differences on the switching side between TMobile/Sprint but the RF technology is the same since Sprint is moving away from WiMax based 4G to GSM 4G LTE.
  - makosdv 12y ago
    LTE has handover capabilities with CDMA, EvDO, GSM, and UMTS. The handovers are simpler for GSM and UMTS though since LTE is also a 3GPP standard.
    - apendleton 12y ago
      Can a single LTE node/tower/whatever handle handover for both CDMA and GSM? In other words, could a hypothetically-merged company provide the LTE part of the service to both TMobile and Sprint customers using the same equipment?
      - greg5green 12y ago
        T-Mobile already does something similar in the US with their MetroPCS network. They've started to open the old MetroPCS network up to T-Mobile users and vice versa by broadcasting multiple MNC (mobile network codes) from the same antennas. If a phone call comes through, it'll hand off to T-Mobile's GSM network or the old MetroPCS CDMA network. I think Orange and T-Mobile do something similar in the UK with their shared EE network and Verizon with their LTE in Rural America partners in the Great Plains/Maine/etc.
- aidenn0 12y ago
  1) CDMA has a standard for something similar to SIM cards that is used in places outside of the US. Verizon never wanted it though, and the phone companies build what the carriers want, not what consumers want. 2) LTE is compatible with both CDMA and GSM, and furthermore specifies a SIM card. All my recent Sprint phones have SIM cards that is used solely for CDMA 3) I expect the Sprint CDMA network is more valuable than the T-Mobile GSM network, but my information is out of date; if T-Mobile has been buying up spectrum faster than Sprint, they may have caught up. 4) T-Mobile actually owns some CDMA spectrum as a legacy from MetroPCS 5) For at least a couple years after the merger, I expect that both 3G networks will continue to operate; it's possible that phones specifically for rural areas (which will get LTE last) with the ability to connect to both will be made; IIRC T-Mobile sells some tri-band phones that connect to bands it owns no spectrum in specifically for allowing that (though it's still GSM, not CDMA).
- sliverstorm 12y ago
  If they replace T-Mobile's network, is that going to mean I can't use my GSM T-Mobile phone with the new company?
maxsilver 12y ago
I'd like to believe he's being truthful, but I'm guessing he's just pretending to care, to get public support to get his plans through the FCC and DOJ. It's just conjecture, but I'm almost certain he won't do anything to improve internet in the US.
blakerson 12y ago
I am seriously pessimistic. This merger is about wireless, not wireline. Yes, Japan has fantastic wireline broadband and Son had a lot to do with breaking open Japan's market (after NTT's lines were made the equivalent of a common carrier). However, Japan also has just 3 mobile carriers and of them, SoftBank is universally panned for the worst reception, lowest LTE speeds, and worst customer service. There is no reason to believe Son will increase competition in wireless by reducing the US market to 3 carriers.

jychang 12y ago

I'm curious of the technical side of things, though. Sprint is CDMA, Tmobile is GSM. That doesn't mix well, at least compared to a ATT/Tmobile merger. As a current Tmobile user, I'd like to keep the ability to switch out SIM cards, but if Sprint buys out Tmobile and replaces it with their network, that may not be possible.

sargun 12y ago
Sprint is going LTE, so is T-mobile.
notatoad 12y ago
Aren't both CDMA and GSM legacy technologies at this point? It's all about the LTE and VoLTE going forward.
- Churipapiau 12y ago
  Think about all the countries without LTE, if you travel to one and want to get a local SIM card (since it's usually cheaper) you're gonna need those GSM bands.
akiselev 12y ago
4G LTE is based on GSM technology so as devices get more and more bandwidth heavy most of the network load will be on GSM derived technology. There are likely infrastructure differences on the switching side between TMobile/Sprint but the RF technology is the same since Sprint is moving away from WiMax based 4G to GSM 4G LTE.
- makosdv 12y ago
  LTE has handover capabilities with CDMA, EvDO, GSM, and UMTS. The handovers are simpler for GSM and UMTS though since LTE is also a 3GPP standard.
  - apendleton 12y ago
    Can a single LTE node/tower/whatever handle handover for both CDMA and GSM? In other words, could a hypothetically-merged company provide the LTE part of the service to both TMobile and Sprint customers using the same equipment?
    - greg5green 12y ago
      T-Mobile already does something similar in the US with their MetroPCS network. They've started to open the old MetroPCS network up to T-Mobile users and vice versa by broadcasting multiple MNC (mobile network codes) from the same antennas. If a phone call comes through, it'll hand off to T-Mobile's GSM network or the old MetroPCS CDMA network. I think Orange and T-Mobile do something similar in the UK with their shared EE network and Verizon with their LTE in Rural America partners in the Great Plains/Maine/etc.
aidenn0 12y ago
1) CDMA has a standard for something similar to SIM cards that is used in places outside of the US. Verizon never wanted it though, and the phone companies build what the carriers want, not what consumers want. 2) LTE is compatible with both CDMA and GSM, and furthermore specifies a SIM card. All my recent Sprint phones have SIM cards that is used solely for CDMA 3) I expect the Sprint CDMA network is more valuable than the T-Mobile GSM network, but my information is out of date; if T-Mobile has been buying up spectrum faster than Sprint, they may have caught up. 4) T-Mobile actually owns some CDMA spectrum as a legacy from MetroPCS 5) For at least a couple years after the merger, I expect that both 3G networks will continue to operate; it's possible that phones specifically for rural areas (which will get LTE last) with the ability to connect to both will be made; IIRC T-Mobile sells some tri-band phones that connect to bands it owns no spectrum in specifically for allowing that (though it's still GSM, not CDMA).
sliverstorm 12y ago
If they replace T-Mobile's network, is that going to mean I can't use my GSM T-Mobile phone with the new company?

maxsilver 12y ago

I'd like to believe he's being truthful, but I'm guessing he's just pretending to care, to get public support to get his plans through the FCC and DOJ. It's just conjecture, but I'm almost certain he won't do anything to improve internet in the US.

blakerson 12y ago

I am seriously pessimistic. This merger is about wireless, not wireline. Yes, Japan has fantastic wireline broadband and Son had a lot to do with breaking open Japan's market (after NTT's lines were made the equivalent of a common carrier). However, Japan also has just 3 mobile carriers and of them, SoftBank is universally panned for the worst reception, lowest LTE speeds, and worst customer service. There is no reason to believe Son will increase competition in wireless by reducing the US market to 3 carriers.