Sprint Turns Up the Volume on 3G and 4G LTE in Chicago

Major enhancements poised to deliver customers better coverage, faster speeds, stronger voice coverage – all with unlimited data, text and calling plans

Sprint brings Sprint Spark to Chicago, a unique combination of network technologies designed to bring customers super-high wireless speeds

CHICAGO (BUSINESS WIRE), December 10, 2013 – Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) invites Chicagoland wireless users to try its improved 3G and all-new 4G LTE network, which now includes Sprint Spark™ – a unique combination of network technologies that can deliver super-fast wireless speeds with the potential to surpass speeds of any other U.S. wireless carrier. As part of Sprint’s Network Vision program, the company undertook a massive initiative to “rip and replace” equipment from its 38,000 cell sites across the country. This campaign has largely been completed in Chicago and the company expects Chicagoans to experience the benefits of a much more robust, reliable network.

The new and improved network is expected to deliver a better voice and data wireless experience where calls, texting, uploading photos and surfing the Web occur most — sports arenas, major thoroughfares, shopping destinations and business districts throughout the area.

The new network allows Sprint’s residential and commercial customers to take advantage of a huge array of benefits and a seemingly unlimited supply of smartphone apps with what the company calls the Sprint Unlimited Guarantee. The Sprint Unlimited Guarantee is available with either the company’s Unlimited, My Way^SM or its My All-in^SM plan, two plans which give customers unlimited talk, text and data while on the Sprint network, guaranteed for the life of the line of service¹.

“Sprint’s investment in upgrading our network infrastructure has required a massive team of dedicated engineers and technicians to systematically install new, modern 3G and 4G LTE-capable equipment,” said Bob Azzi, Sprint chief network officer. “This process involved equipping Sprint cell towers in the Chicago area with state-of-the-art network technology. It took us more than a year to complete and, although there have been some service interruptions, we expect our customers will find the improved Sprint wireless experience worth it.”

Sprint Spark available in Chicago

Sprint is also prepared going forward to allow its Chicago customers to take full advantage of wireless video and many of today’s other cutting-edge technologies in Chicagoland with Sprint Spark. Introduced on Oct. 30, Sprint Spark combines spectrum capacity and advanced network technologies and is expected to deliver a seamless tri-band LTE experience, including wireless peak speeds of 50-60 Megabits per second today on capable devices, with increasing speed potential over time. Given Sprint’s spectrum and technology assets, it is technically feasible to deliver more than 2Gbps per sector of over-the-air speed.² Sprint Spark enhanced LTE greatly improves today’s wireless experience while paving the way for countless next-generation wireless applications on capable tri-band LTE devices.

Today, wireless networks and smartphones allow customers to book flights, locate children, store photos and music, video chat and so much more. Sprint Spark has the potential to make possible not only those increasingly common uses of network technology, but also high-end gaming, virtual reality, advanced cloud services and those kinds of applications that are going to require higher and even more concentrated levels of wireless bandwidth in the future. Sprint Spark leverages one of the most advanced networks on the market, but it’s tri-band devices like Samsung Galaxy MEGA™, HTC One^® max and NETGEAR^® Zing Mobile Hotspot™ that truly bring it to life.

Sprint plans to deploy Sprint Spark in about 100 of America’s largest cities during the next three years, with availability today in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tampa and Miami. For details on Sprint’s 4G LTE rebuild and rollout, go to www.sprint.com/network. For 4G LTE maps, visit www.sprint.com/coverage. Customers, consumers and members of the media are encouraged to check back regularly as all maps will be updated and revised as the network’s coverage expands.

About Sprint

Sprint (NYSE:S) offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint served more than 54 million customers at the end of the third quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

¹ The guarantee will apply to customers as long as they remain on the plan, meet the terms and conditions of the plan and pay their bill in full and on time. Price and phone selection are subject to change. Other plans may receive prioritized bandwidth availability. Streaming video speeds may be limited to 1 Mbps.

² Sprint Spark actual deployment plans and speeds will be determined over time based on many factors, including build economics and the availability of equipment, devices and applications.

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