WASHINGTON-Sprint Nextel Corp., already on record with other national wireless carriers as opposing mandated roaming for voice services, has been forced to also fight off calls for the company to strike roaming agreements for push-to-talk and possible services using its extensive 2.5 GHz frequencies.
“The `roaming-like’ arrangement that Sprint Nextel and other iDEN carriers have implemented over their dispatch networks is costly and difficult to implement and maintain,” Sprint Nextel told the Federal Communications Commission. Sprint Nextel lambasted a SouthernLinc Wireless proposal for a “lowest prevailing retail rate” price cap for iDEN roaming access. SouthernLinc offers iDEN-based services in portions of Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
The wave of mergers that has whittled down the mobile-phone industry to four national operators is prompting small- and medium-sized wireless carriers-including those in rural areas-to pressure the FCC to consider enacting roaming requirements. Commissioner Jonathan Adelestein has been particularly vocal about wanting to investigate the impact of carrier consolidation on roaming.
Sprint Nextel is in the unique position having what many consider to be the premier push-to-talk network and owning the lion’s share of spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band.
NY3G, which control’s Broadband Radio Spectrum covering portions of New York, recommended that the FCC consider imposing roaming obligations on the 2.5 GHz bands. The recommendation drew a terse response from Sprint Nextel.
“The history of the (commercial mobile radio services) industry demonstrates that carriers have economic incentives to negotiate roaming agreements where two carriers provide similar services using similar technologies for different geographic markets. NY3G does not present a reason why these same economic incentives will not apply equally in the provision of mobile broadband services-whether in the 2.5 GHz band or some other band,” Sprint Nextel said.
