Sprint Spark as Very Powerful Long-Term Evolution Network - Thesis Example

Sprint’s Spark network How it works Sprint Spark is very powerful LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network. Sprint enhanced the spark network to incorporate three bands of the LTE network for the creation of a tri-band experience that is revolutionary. This means that the data speed is the fastest-ever. In addition, it has stronger in-build signal (Sprint, 2014). The Sprint Spark technology is basically an enhancement of the current standard LTE network that delivers a fair quick Internet access when using a mobile phone, which is at the same level with a broadband connection. This Sprint network new evolution is part of the Network Vision, which involved redesigning the cell towers it uses and other important aspects of the network operations (Costa, 2014). The Sprint Spark works by combining 4G FDD-LTE at 1.9 Gigahertz (GHz) and 800 Megahertz (MHz) and the TDD-LTE at a spectrum of 2.5GHz. Sprint designed the spectrum assets, architecture and technology for the Sprint Spark in a way that enables it to deliver a seamless customer experience using devices that are tri-band wireless (Sprint, 2014). This technology is called a carrier aggregation. The carrier aggregation involves stitching together the different frequency channels or the carriers found in the radio spectrum, at different parts (Costa, 2014). The tri-band devices were given that name due to their ability to support multiple spectrum bands, supporting the active hand-off mode of between 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz. It does this by providing a continued data session when the device is moving between the different spectrum bands (Sprint, 2014). The specific band that a wireless phone can use at any given time depends on the location of the user the applications that the user is using at the specific time (Costa, 2014). Sprint spark focuses particularly on the 2.5 GHz spectrum band. This is because the 2.5 GHz spectrum band enables very high data speeds that can go to as high as 1.3 gigabits/ second. Sprint redesigned spark’s network cell sites that were due to the Network Vision, which Sprint currently uses for the 2.5 GHz band (Costa, 2014). The Sprint spark expanded its NetCracker’s OSS solutions for supporting its enhanced LTE rollout. The new level of great mobile internet experience is made possible by the next-gen wireless technology that Sprint Spark uses. NetCracker has played a major role in helping the Sprint spark be a leading-edge network in the U.S. mobile market that is highly competitive (NetCracker, 2014). What it does Sprint spark uses multiple antenna arrays that are combined with eight-receive or eight-transmit radios found at the cell site. This is responsible for boosting the LTE TDD 2.5 GHz speed and range. The current cellular design uses two paths for transmitting and receiving but the 8T8R boasts of eight. The 8T8R enables a wide-range beam forming that means an operator is able to direct a beam to a particular device. This is responsible for improving the transmission’s range, speed and signal-to-noise characteristics. Originally, in 2002, Sprint tried out this technology with Wi-Fi. The company also floated this technology as WiMax boosters. However, the company chose LTE over that specification, as LTE was the preferred 4G technology. The 8T8R was made possible for cellular by the shrinking technology. Over the years, the technology has shrunk so much that it is possible to install a remote radio head (RRH) and a multi-element antenna array for supporting the 8T8R at a cell site. The RRH on band 41 i.e. 2.5 GHz can support up to 160 W and an aggregated carrier bandwidth of up to 120 MHz. This enables it to fit with the sprint spark capacities and TDD bandwidth. The Beam forming technology and the vastly increased transmission and receive paths will most likely be used for the 5G specification eventually (Maisto, 2013). The Advanced LTE specification, Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), is part of Sprints Spark advancements. The operator takes further the advancements with device support and software updates. The infrastructure is thus able to support three carriers at 180 Mbit/s peaks (Maisto, 2013). Sprint Spark combines very advanced capabilities. For aggregation for speed it uses the 1x, 2x and 3x carrier, for coverage it uses the 8T8R, for capacity it uses the MIMO, for spectral efficiency it uses the TDD (Time Division Duplexing). The Sprint’s sparks uses all these advanced capabilities together with advanced devices to be able to offer both high-definition voice and tri-band capabilities for the best customer experience possible (Maisto, 2013). More plainly, the sprint sparks achieves great speeds by working on the 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands of wireless spectrum using 4G LTE technologies, using the Alcatel-Lucent special 2.5GHz radio heads, the Nokia and Samsung solutions and other Networks and the other spectrum holdings belonging to the company (Maisto, 2013). What it has to offer Currently, Sprint Spark delivers peak wireless speeds ranging from 50-60 Mbps on devices that are capable. Sprint Spark wireless has the potential to increase the peak speeds over time. If the speed is increased, the Sprint Spark’s customers will be able to access the internet with speeds of well beyond 100Mbps. Moreover, Sprint Spark has the potential of unlocking the content, applications and services that are experienced on a desktop only thus making them accessible in a wireless and mobile dimension (Sprint, 2014). Through Sprint spark’s new cell sites, it can add 2.5 GHz radios to its network. Sprint spark plans to be first carrier in the US that can deploy radios with eight receivers and eight transmitters. This is around two times to four times antennas per spectrum band than the other networks. In addition, the company has combined its networks tri-band capacity, which were just tiered network formats before. There are two LTE flavors: the time division duplex (TDD) and the frequency division duplex (FDD), in which the company will use TDD-LTE for higher performance and speeds and the EDD-LTE for baseline coverage. The combination of both TDD and FDD enables the company to provide its customers with high-speed data due to the uniquely built network. Sprint spark is the only company that is able to leverage the spectral and flexibility efficiency for both FDD and TDD in the company’s network design (Costa, 2014). The creation of NETGEAR LTE Gateway 6100D (LG6100D) and other similar devices that can operate in three spectrum bands is another advantage that came about due to the Sprint Spark rollout. The Sprint Spark enhanced technology and spectrum integration ensures the creation of a seamless network. The NETGEAR LTE Gateway 6100D is a wireless router that is fixed and designed for bringing 24/7 connectivity and high data bandwidth that fits all the customer needs. This is the first combination of the Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11ac Wi-Fi and the LTE wireless broadband for delivering reliable broadband and easy-to-install wireless connectivity. The device is able to do this in a single compact solution. This is an example of some of the benefits brought about by the Sprint Spark network (Sprint and NETGEAR®, 2014). The Sprint Spark network enables its customers to access very strong in-building signals and high data speeds that users have not seen before for fast file transfers and an enhanced streaming. Therefore, the Sprint Spark improves the quality of calls, ensures clarity and enables video chats that are lag-free with speeds of up to 50-60 Megabits/ second (Mbps). This is the peak speed but it has the potential of increasing speed potential time (Sprint and NETGEAR®, 2014). In an area with the Sprint Spark coverage, users can stream their favorite movies or TV shows in brilliant 1080p. The users can also play free online games that are lag free during commute without any problems. According to Sprint, a 60-minute HD television download would take around 7 hours using a 3G network, 35 minutes using a 4G network but only 2.5 minutes when using Sprint Spark. Moreover, it takes 10 minutes to download a 60-minute podcast over 3G, in 4G it would take 52 seconds but it would only take 7 seconds when using Spark. In addition, it would take 4 minutes for a 20MB game when using 3G, using 4G would take 21 seconds and using spark would take 3 seconds. This means that the Sprint sparks speeds are too high and the users have not experienced such great speeds before (Maisto, 2013). References Costa, D. (2014). Sprint sets the stage for Spark data network. Caribbean Business, 42(16), 32. Maisto, M. (2013). Sprints Super-Fast Spark Now in 5 Cities, Phones Coming Nov. 8. Eweek, 17. NetCracker, T. (2014). Sprint Selects NetCracker OSS to Support Rollout of Revolutionary Sprint Spark Network Technology. Business Wire (English). Sprint and NETGEAR®, I. c. (2014). Sprint’s First Router to Bring Sprint Spark to Business Customers: NETGEAR LTE Gateway 6100D. Business Wire (English). Sprint. (2014). Sprint Newsroom. 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