Sprint chief network officer talks balance of security and access, along with innovation
Sprint, in a heated battle with AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile US and Verizon Wireless for market share, has been a strong advocate for competition in the domestic wireless space and, in a new blog post, details the importance of a truly open Internet.
Chief Network Officer John Saw wrote that an open Internet is “vital, fostering competition and innovation throughout the wireless ecosystem. And Sprint is proud to play its part with a content-agnostic network that gives businesses and consumers access to the online content and services they want and need.”
Saw explained that the carrier tries to strike a balance between security and open access.
“Sprint’s open approach is common industry practice across wireless networks in the U.S. And in order for it to work, it requires that end-points receiving network traffic be protected. These end-points include everything from devices (phones, laptops, wearables and more) to services (online banks and retailers, for example). We work with our customers, manufacturers, service providers and others to address the need for protecting their devices and services. And in the event of a security threat (for example, an enterprise customer tells us their devices have a security vulnerability), we will take steps to protect our network and customers against such threats. Lastly, we always encourage consumers to take full advantage of the many device security software options available today.”
The Federal Communications Commission’s somewhat controversial Open Internet Order, which went into effect on June 12, is designed to “protect free expression and innovation on the Internet and promote investment in the nation’s broadband networks. The Open Internet rules are grounded in the strongest possible legal foundation … As part of this decision, the [FCC] also refrains (or forbears) from enforcing provisions of Title II that are not relevant to modern broadband service.”
The rules are in place to “support clear rules of the road, providing the certainty needed for innovators and investors, and the competitive choices and freedom demanded by consumers.”
Saw picked up on the innovation aspect of the Open Internet Order in his comments.
“Sprint’s network is built to support an open Internet for its customers, developers and device manufacturers,” Saw explained. “By ‘open’ we mean that we do not block lawful Internet traffic or protocols. We do not restrict access to applications and content, nor do we prioritize one content provider’s traffic over another. This approach spurs innovation and gives businesses and consumers the ability to connect to whatever services, information and entertainment they choose.”
