After network difficulties hampered Sprint Spectrum L.P.’s projected launch of “15 to 20 markets” by the end of 1996, the company last week finally launched its premiere New York market.
Another key market, Dallas, launched May 15.
The company had hoped to launch several Code Division Multiple Access networks, including systems in New York, San Francisco and Boston by the end of last year. Instead, the company only was able to launch 11 markets by the end of the year.
However, Sprint Spectrum has 42 markets operating today, including 15 markets launched in the last two months. The company won 29 major trading areas during the Federal Communications Commissions A- and B-block auction.
The company launched nine networks during May, including New York, Toledo, Ohio, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, Texas, Indianapolis, Tucson, Ariz., New Orleans and Orange County, Calif.
Sprint had six network launches in April-Nashville, Tenn., Omaha and Lincoln, Neb., Austin, Texas, Philadelphia and Kansas City, Mo.
“This is just the beginning,” said Andrew Sukawaty, chief executive officer of Sprint. “City by city, our goal of building the nation’s first 100-percent digital, 100-percent PCS nationwide wireless network is gathering momentum.”
Network infrastructure equipment is being supplied by Lucent Technologies Inc. and Northern Telecom Ltd. Sprint PCS service, phones and accessories are available through Sprint PCS retail centers as well as a variety of retail outlets, including Radio Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, Nobody Beats the Wiz, The Good Guys, Dillards and several May Co. department stores.
Other markets launched so far include Denver and Boulder, Colo.; Rochester, Syracuse and Albany, N.Y.; Wichita, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Ames and Iowa City, Iowa; Little Rock, Ark.; Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla.; Salt Lake City; Pittsburgh; San Diego and Fresno, Calif.; Milwaukee; Portland and Eugene, Ore.; Vancouver and Spokane, Wash.; and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Sprint is comprised of four partners including Sprint Corp., Tele-Communications Inc., Comcast Corp. and Cox Communications Inc.
