Sprint expands three-carrier aggregation, HPUE support in Milwaukee
Sprint has turned up three-carrier aggregation and high-power user equipment support in Milwaukee, Wisc., as well as adding its Magic Boxes and outdoor small cells for densification.
The move is in line with the carrier’s network plans for this year, which Sprint CTO John Saw said in January would focus on adding coverage and capacity “where it’s needed,” including further expansion of its three-channel carrier aggregation network technology and the use of HPUE device technology. Sprint said that it has seen data usage by its Milwaukee customers rise more than 967% in the past five years.
The carrier’s first device with HPUE support, the LG G6, went on sale in April; the Samsung Galaxy S8 followed, and Sprint’s Boost pre-paid brand has the ZTE Max XL with HPUE capabilities. Sprint has said that the use of HPUE will extend the reach of its 2.5 GHz-based network by up to 30%.
Sprint’s moves in Milwaukee also reflects its ongoing retail push, with plans to open 38 new stores in the Milwaukee area during the rest of 2017 and through 2018. The carrier has been on a store-opening spree, with plans for 105 new stores in the Chicago area over the next year and a half; and another 60 stores in the New England region. As Twice reported, Sprint recently ended a two-year-old retail distribution partnership with Dixons and is buying out Dixon’s 50%-share of the joint venture that was supposed to result in up to 500 new jointly-owned retail locations; Sprint instead will have full ownership of the more than 100 locations opened to date.
As part of its Milwaukee focus, Sprint is also boosting local support for its 1Million Project to provide high-speed wireless internet to 1 million low-income students. In Milwaukee, the carrier said that 2,800 students at 25 Milwaukee public high schools will receive a free device, such as a smartphone, tablet or hot spot device; as well as 3 GB of LTE data per month for up to four years, while they are attending high school.
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