Sprint aims to bridge the gap between fixed and wireless for enterprise

A new fixed wireless access service from Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) is being targeted at the enterprise. If successful, Sprint 4G Enterprise WAN (wide area network) could replace traditional wired options by connecting businesses to the carrier’s multiprotocol label switching network in any market where 4G is available.
Once a business customer has an outdoor modem professionally installed, Sprint 4G Enterprise WAN will provide 4G and 3G connectivity, backed by a 99.95% service level agreement for availability, the company said.
The operator claims that a new business can come on board within 15 business days.
Greg Wagnon, senior network engineer at Explorer Pipeline, said the service has already improved the productivity of technicians at the site.
“They get the data they need from the Internet and the corporate office to go out and do their work. They spend less time waiting for the information they want and more time doing work on the pipeline. I see a direct increase in productivity,” Wagnon said. “The network speeds are faster, and I didn’t have to go to the phone company to dig a trench for a T-1. I don’t have to deal with tariffs and local loops. It’s so much easier to just hang an antenna.”
The company, which operates a 1,900-mile fuel pipeline from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest, is one of the early users.
“Sprint understands the critical challenges facing businesses today, which demand innovative solutions to address higher bandwidth needs, business continuity, and cost reduction in a recovering economy,” said Tom Roberts, VP of business marketing at Sprint. “With 4G Enterprise WAN, Sprint delivers customers increased flexibility for their branch locations or retail operations through high-speed wireless connectivity and more built-in reliability than typical wireline – creating a real competitive advantage for their business.”