After eliminating several engineering and operations positions in January, Sprint Spectrum L.P. said it is now in a long-term hiring mode with plans to focus heavily on technology development.
“From a technology perspective, we’re really looking at being a leader in the industry,” said Keith Paglusch, vice president of technical services and operations.
Sprint PCS in February created a dedicated team in its network engineering and operations organization to specifically lead all technology development programs. The nationwide personal communications services licensee said its technology efforts include developing third-generation technology, working with its equipment vendors to develop interoperability specifications, improving network capabilities and creating new features.
Earlier this year, Sprint PCS announced it would push ahead with W-cdmaOne technology-third-generation technology based on Code Division Multiple Access Interim Standard 95 technology-in conjunction with Lucent Technologies Inc., Motorola Inc., Northern Telecom Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. The companies will test the technology no later than 2000, with commercial deployment to follow. No other U.S. wireless carrier has announced any time frames within which it plans to test or deploy third-generation technology.
Paglusch said Sprint PCS is working with its current vendors-Motorola, Nortel, Lucent and Qualcomm-to ensure that their equipment can interoperate by 2000. Currently, cdmaOne equipment falls under two incompatible interim standards-IS-634 Revision A and IS-634 Revision B. Lucent recently was successful in pushing IS-634 Revision B through the Telecommunications Industry Association and is the only vendor using the standard. Other cdmaOne vendors have announced some collaboration efforts under IS-634 Revision A.
“We have a very detailed planning document that is an interoperability spec amongst all of those vendors. We meet on a regular basis with all of them to ensure we’re moving in a direction that allows all pieces of equipment to interoperate,” said Paglusch. “It’s clearly important for us economically and in terms of flexibility. It’s important as an industry that all service providers have a capability of being able to mix and match equipment.”
Paglusch said Sprint PCS already has increased capacity in several of its networks based on higher-than-expected minutes of use, and the carrier will work on enhancing in-building penetration this year. Sprint PCS recently rolled out call-back voice mail service that allows customers to automatically dial the person who left the message without exiting the voice mail system. The carrier plans to launch short messaging service soon.
Following quick rollouts in its major trading area markets last year, Sprint PCS currently is building out its basic trading area markets. Between August and mid-1999, the carrier said it will be offering service in about 100 more markets. The company recently broke ground on a new customer care center in New Mexico, which is expected to provide about 1,200 jobs.
The carrier streamlined its operations nationwide in January, eliminating E&O offices to reflect its move from building out new markets to an operational phase, said the company.
