Sprint’s operational transformation has taken a few scalps as a couple of key network executives ere leaving the carrier. Bob Azzi, SVP of networks at Sprint, and president of network operations Steve Elfman are both set to depart.
Fierce Wireless first reported this week that Azzi was set to leave the company next week, with Steve Elfman on tap to exit the carrier at a later date. Sprint confirmed the changes, noting that Azzi’s departure was a mutual decision, while Elfman’s departure was not expected in the near term.
John Saw, SVP of technical architecture at Sprint, is being promoted to chief network officer, where he will be reporting directly to Sprint’s CTO Stephen Bye.
Saw came to Sprint last year as part of the carrier’s acquisition of Clearwire, where Saw was CTO and managed the carrier’s build out of WiMAX services across the 2.5 GHz band. Bye came to Sprint in 2011, following a stint as VP of wireless at Cox Communications.
The move comes as Sprint has struggled through its extensive Network Vision program that will see the carrier basically replace all of its network equipment, a process that has resulted in network interruptions impacting operational results. More recently, Sprint announced its Spark program that will see the carrier tie together its extensive spectrum holdings across the 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands to support higher-speed data services.
Sprint recently posted challenged fourth quarter financial results, warning at that time that its operational challenges will continue through at least the first half of this year as it continues to struggle through its network upgrade program. Those struggles are expected to impact network quality with a resulting higher churn rate and loss of customers.
“During the construction phase, there is a period of disruption to our network service which will manifest itself in higher voice service drops and blocked calls,” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse. “Voice performance is very noticeable to customers, so heightened blocks and drops contribute significantly to churn.”
Sprint’s LTE launch has been saddled with slower network speeds compared with its rivals due to having just 10 megahertz of spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band for support. The carrier has tried to downplay the speed reports, with Azzi last year noting that customers were receiving a solid offering on their mobile devices.
The carrier’s LTE rollout challenges were also highlighted by the relatively rapid deployment of LTE services by its smaller rival T-Mobile US, which managed to surpass Sprint’s LTE coverage despite starting its network build nearly one year after Sprint.
The management shakeup also comes just days before Sprint’s new chairman Masayoshi Son was scheduled to make a presentation in front of the Washington, D.C., Chamber of Commerce entitled “The promise of mobile Internet in driving American innovation, the economy and education.” Son, who is chairman of Japan’s Softbank, has aggressively put his stamp on Sprint’s operations as well as hinted that he would also like to acquire T-Mobile US.
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