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Jan. 19, 2009

Sprint Nextel said that it is planning a $2 billion investment plan that is aimed in providing first responders with emergency interoperable wireless communications anywhere in the U.S. within four hours.

Sprint's new project is based on the use of specially-equipped fleets of trucks outfitted with cellular gear and satellite backhaul antennas.

The new public-safety proposal is radically different from the FCC's efforts to auction a national license or a set of regional licenses for public-safety and commercial broadband communications.

The U.S.’ number three mobile-phone carrier, Sprint Nextel, which is struggling to keep pace with industry leaders Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility, said its public-safety proposal could be deployed in about a year at a fraction of the expenditure implicated in the FCC’s 700 MHz D-Block plan.

But so far, it doesn't appear that Sprint’s new idea would offer the kind of broadband connectivity that first responders say they need and that was contemplated in D-Block plans championed by outgoing FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

The 700 MHz public-safety D Block failed to attract a successful bidder in 2008’s auction, prompting the FCC to attempt to revise rules in an auction that is now in limbo.

It is still unclear whether the next FCC chairman in the Obama administration — presumably Julius Genachowski — will attempt to resurrect the D Block.

Sprint Nextel said “overall, establishing a comprehensive, interoperable broadband public-safety communications solution will take many years and cost tens of billions of dollars. But public safety emergencies — floods, wildfires, earthquakes, ice storms or terrorist events — can happen anytime and the U.S. can’t wait for the communications solutions necessary to safeguard lives and property.”

Sprint Nextel’s proposal made no mention of specific network technology.

Sprint runs a CDMA network and a separate iDEN network, and push-to-talk services are available on both networks. Interestingly, though, Sprint Nextel hinted at “4G wireless broadband capability” in its proposal, contingent on additional funding beyond the initial $2 billion.

Sprint is selling mobile WiMAX services through its deal with Clearwire under the “Sprint 4G” brand.

Repeatedly, members of Congress have called for improved public-safety communications in light of problems that surfaced in recovery efforts following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and the Pentagone, and in view of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

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Source: Sprint Nextel.