Editor’s Note: As Leap Wireless International Inc. prepares to launch its Cricket wireless service in RCR Wireless News’ home market in Denver, we thought we would use the opportunity to take a closer look at what’s involved in launching service in a new market.
Setting up a wireless network in a mid-size market should be an easy task. After acquiring a spectrum license, all a carrier has to do is throw up some towers, put in a switch and watch the money roll in.
While that may be a best-case scenario in dreamland, the real world of network engineering is a tedious process that can take more than a year. Leap Wireless International Inc., which markets its Cricket wireless service in more than 20 markets across the country, has become a bit of an expert on the fine points of setting up a network from scratch.
Since its launch a little more than three years ago, Leap and its engineers have set up networks that on average handle more than 1,100 minutes of use per customer per month with penetration are located.
“It’s a constantly evolving process,” Umetsu said.
When it comes time to set up antenna sites, Leap first looks for collocation opportunities to speed up deployment and save on the cost of construction. Umetsu also noted the carrier works closely with local permitting officials to give them a feel for what Leap is trying to accomplish with its network and soothe fears over tower-siting issues.
“We try to fill in 90 percent of network coverage within the first 90 days of launch,” Umetsu explained. “We start with about a year’s worth of capacity, depending on how quick we think we can adjust to additional capacity. The heavy-metal stuff, like frames and switches we try to plan more in advance for, but easy-to-upgrade parts, like network cards, we can plan for around nine months of capacity.”
Umetsu pointed out the carrier’s use of CDMA technology also helps its capacity issues.
Leap’s current market mix is made up mostly of mid-size markets with populations stead of landline phones, so we have to concentrate a lot on in-building coverage,” Umetsu said, “Basically we have to put out more cell sites to accomplish the in-building coverage we are looking for.”
To help maintain quality in its local networks, Leap says it makes a point to use as many local engineers as possible. In addition to having a better understanding of the market, local employees are more demanding of service issues and can respond to problems quicker.
“We try to work with RF engineers that live in the markets,” Umetsu said. “If they don’t live in the area, they are not as bothered by drop calls or network coverage holes. We are like a local telephone company in that regard.”
