Sprint signs LTE roaming deals with a dozen rural operators

Following up on plans announced earlier this year, Sprint today said it has signed LTE roaming agreements with a dozen rural operators. The deals provide Sprint with a stronger LTE footprint outside of the larger markets in which it has focused a majority of its initial LTE build, while providing the rural operators with access to a broader footprint.
The deal is part of Sprint’s Rural Roaming Preferred Program, which was developed in connection with the Competitive Carriers Association and tied to a previously announced agreement between Sprint and CCA announced at the CCA trade show earlier this year. That deal calls for the association’s carrier members to tap into CCA’s Data Services Hub as a clearinghouse for reciprocal roaming agreements with Sprint. The carrier will also work with CCA to promote a device ecosystem that will include 700 MHz Band Class 12 support into devices that are also compatible with Sprint’s LTE and CDMA services across the 800 MHz and 1.9 GHz band.
The carriers involved in the deal include SouthernLINC, Ntelos, C Spire, Nex-Tech Wireless, Flat Wireless, SI Wireless, Inland Cellular, Illinois Valley Cellular, Carolina West Wireless, James Valley Telecommunications; VTel Wireless and Phoenix Wireless. Sprint said the agreements cover 34 million potential customers across more than 352,000 square miles in 23 states. Sprint recently announced it had surpassed 200 million potential customers covered by its 1.9 GHz-powered LTE network, though remains approximately one-third behind the LTE coverage of larger rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility.
The agreement with Ntelos builds on the expanded network deal announced between the two carriers last month. Sprint has been working with C Spire on LTE roaming since early last year.
The deal does not tap into an agreement announced between Sprint and NetAmerica that coincided with the CCA deal, though Sprint said the latest agreement “complements” that Small Market Alliance for Rural Transformation. That agreement will provide CCA members with the ability to lease 800 MHz and 1.9 GHz spectrum from Sprint in markets where the carrier said it did not plan on launching LTE services. In gaining the spectrum resources, rural carriers would agree to build out LTE services compliant with Sprint’s Network Vision program and include a reciprocal roaming agreement. Carriers taking advantage of the Sprint spectrum will tap into network core services provided by Sprint and NetAmerica.
According to Sprint, NetAmerica reportedly has completed preliminary agreements with 14 companies and has engaged in discussions with approximately 40 additional companies in more than a dozen states.
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