5G Technology World

  • 5G Technology and Engineering
  • Apps
  • Devices
  • IoT
  • RF
  • Radar
  • EE Learning Center
  • 5G Videos
  • Handbooks
    • 2022
    • 2021
  • Design Guides
    • WiFi & the IOT Design Guide
    • Microcontrollers Design Guide
    • State of the Art Inductors Design Guide

Sprint Sets Sights on 5G with Small Cell Densification Plan

By Diana Goovaerts | March 11, 2016

Despite its decision to sit out the upcoming FCC spectrum auction, Sprint CFO Tarek Robbiati said the carrier has its sights set on the 5G future with a demanding plan to build out its small cell network and capitalize on the capacity offered by its high-frequency spectrum.

In comments delivered at an investor conference on Wednesday, Robbiati said Sprint’s network plans aren’t about building up its 4G network but instead about laying the groundwork for 5G.

“We are not building a network that is 4G, 4G is almost a thing of the past,” Robbiati said. “We are building a 5G network for the future, and 5G networks are fundamentally different to 4G networks. They are all around high capacity and the more spectrum you have the more capacity you have, the more spectrum you deploy the more you can connect customers and the more speed you can give customers across your network and that requires a fair bit of densification.”

Robbiati said the most efficient spectrum for high capacity networks is high frequency spectrum, which he said Sprint already has in its 2.5 GHz assets. The catch, he said, is that very high frequency spectrum “doesn’t propagate very far,” resulting in the necessity to compensate with densification and the installment of “a lot more sites.”

Right now, Robbiati said Sprint has about 40,000 sites, but said that figure, or even the 50,000 cell site figure boasted by the competition, is “simply not enough” for what Sprint plans to do.

“You need to think differently,” Robbiati said. “You need to have a very different way of engineering your network which is a lot more around small cells and putting a lot more spectrum on air.”

Robbiati said it is “not economical” to attempt to densify with tower sites alone and said Sprint will focus instead on small cell deployments that will cost a fraction of what would be spend on tower sites.

As a result, Robbiati said, the assumptions around the carrier’s capex to sales ration “no longer hold.” Where the ratio used to be around 20 percent, that figure will now be lower, he said.

Robbiati said the network of the future will be a heterogeneous network, meaning the shape of the network will vary by location to account for the specific needs of different coverage areas.

“There is no more a single type of site that suits every situation, even in metro and urban settings,” Robbiati said. “For the suburban environment, you’ll probably need more towers. Small cell sites won’t really do the same thing, but you don’t really need so many small cell sites in low populated areas.”

To fund the deployment of this new network, Robbiati said Sprint will raise money against a “very small portion” of its spectrum assets through Sprint’s network lease company. Robbiati said the asset-backed lending program represents a “fairly attractive” option compared to the alternatives.

Related Articles Read More >

eSIM connects machines, IoT devices to 5G networks
EE World’s T&M Handbook features 5G, 6G, RF power articles
Antennas add 5G to routers and IoT equipment
12 GHz: Claims and counterclaims take hold

Special Issue: 5G Handbook

Need 5G Technology World news in a minute?

We Deliver!
5G Technology World Enewsletters get you caught up on all the mission critical news you need. Sign up today.
Enews Signup

EE World Online Twitter

Tweets by @RandDWorld

EE TRAINING CENTER CLASSROOMS

EE Classrooms
5G Technology World
  • Enews Signup
  • Contact Us
  • EE World Online
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Analogic Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • Engineer’s Garage
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • Wire & Cable Tips

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search 5G Technology World

  • 5G Technology and Engineering
  • Apps
  • Devices
  • IoT
  • RF
  • Radar
  • EE Learning Center
  • 5G Videos
  • Handbooks
    • 2022
    • 2021
  • Design Guides
    • WiFi & the IOT Design Guide
    • Microcontrollers Design Guide
    • State of the Art Inductors Design Guide