DALLAS, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NetAmerica
Alliance, LLC and Sprint today announced the formation of a shared
network alliance which provides NetAmerica Members (rural
communications service providers) the capabilities they need to
compete and thrive in delivering 4G LTE mobile broadband services
to their communities.
This groundbreaking initiative called SMART (Small Market
Alliance for Rural Transformation) is a shared network alliance
where Sprint will provide competitive wireless service providers
with access to 800 MHz and 1900 MHz spectrum, national reach on
Sprint's network, and access to the Sprint device ecosystem. These
three key components will help rural carriers overcome historical
barriers that have prevented them from providing a viable 4G LTE
mobile service offering in their markets. In turn, NetAmerica
Members will build local 4G LTE mobile broadband networks (Sprint
Network Vision- compliant) and will share those networks with
Sprint. Sprint will also share its network (nationwide) with
NetAmerica Members. The local wireless networks will use
integrated LTE core capability delivered by both Sprint and
NetAmerica, thereby providing a Tier-1 carrier service experience
to rural consumers. This win-win solution enables rural wireless
providers to compete on a level playing field with Verizon and
AT&T while giving Sprint a cost effective way to rapidly extend
its coverage into rural areas of the country.
"SMART is a turning point in the communications industry and it
protects the future of rural service providers and the communities
they serve," said NetAmerica Alliance Chairman and CEO,
Roger Hutton. "Until NetAmerica and
Sprint launched SMART, rural providers had no ecosystem of
compatible services, LTE mobile handsets, or spectrum; as a result,
they were being precluded from competing because of the closed
system perpetuated by the duopoly. Today, for rural service
providers, all of that changes. We are proud to be aligned
with Sprint allowing us to fulfill our founding promise of
preserving the proud legacy of the independent rural carrier and
enabling rural citizens to live and work where they choose without
compromise."
"Our relationship with NetAmerica and delivering SMART is a win
for Sprint, for our customers, for rural America, and for
competition," said Stephen Bye,
chief technology officer at Sprint. "Through this shared network
alliance, we are able to deliver a Sprint Vision-compliant network
nationwide, faster and more cost effectively than if we built it by
ourselves while simultaneously being a champion for competition in
rural areas and across America."
NetAmerica will begin formally offering the SMART solution to
selected rural carriers immediately and anticipates network
deployments later this year.
About NetAmerica Alliance:
The NetAmerica Alliance is a democratic, peer-to-peer union of
independent Communication Service Providers (CSPs) joining forces
to secure the future of rural America. Through the programs,
services, capabilities, and investment in infrastructure with which
the Alliance arms its Members, and the manner in which they work
for their individual and collective success, NetAmerica helps to
mitigate business and technology risk to yield successful and
profitable deployment of 4G LTE service. The Alliance believes in
rural America and in the virtues of independence, community, and
family. We also believe that irrespective of geography, every
individual should have access to modern communications services
that maintain those valuable connections. For more information,
visit: www.NetAmericaAlliance.com.
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 55 million customers at the end 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; 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. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (DJSI) North
America in 2011, 2012 and 2013. You can learn more and visit
Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and
www.twitter.com/sprint.
Media Contact for NetAmerica Alliance:
Ginny Gardea
Director of Marketing
NetAmerica Alliance, LLC
Ginny.Gardea@NetAmericaAlliance.com
www.NetAmericaAlliance.com
(503) 314-1056
Media Contact for Sprint:
John
Taylor
(703) 592-8530
John.B.Taylor@sprint.com
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SOURCE NetAmerica Alliance