With compatible CMDA Voice Networks and EV-DO smaller national carriers and regional carriers relied on roaming agreements with each other to give their customers off-network coverage. With 4G LTE, those roaming agreements had largely not happened, leaving a bunch of regional LTE networks. Now, Sprint is joining with 12 regional carriers in a roaming agreement.
Joining the agreement with Sprint are regional carriers SouthernLINC Wireless, CSpire, nTelos, and several primarily rural others that will have reciprocal access to the Sprint network. The agreement covers 352,000 square miles of wireless territory with the 12 regional carriers covering 34 million people.The carriers would also have potentially the same access to mobile devices as Sprint. Sprint would also gain access to these regional networks.
What do you think of this LTE roaming deal? Do you think it could increase the competitiveness for smaller carriers? Let us know in the comments and on our social media pages.
Source: Sprint