OVERLAND PARK, Kan.,
March 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- GOOOALLL! Sprint (NYSE:S) today scored its biggest and most
expansive network innovation in history with the introduction of
Sprint Magic Ball. What appears to be a standard soccer ball is so
much more, making the world's first portable all-wireless small
cell sure to be a keeper. Each Sprint Magic Ball1 will
dramatically improve the network experience for Sprint customers in
homes, schools, cars, fields and stadiums across the country,
providing high-quality game play, better data coverage and faster
download and upload speeds for athletes, spectators and traveling
soccer parents.
First available for soccer and expanding to other sports this
year, Sprint Magic Ball kicks Sprint's network plans into high
gear. It accelerates the company's strategy to densify and enhance
its Next-Gen Network and build a strong foundation for the launch
of Sprint 5G in the first half of 2019. This is no drill: Sprint
Magic Ball will be available beginning Sunday and the company
expects to have millions in play this year.
"Sprint Magic Ball is literally our franchise player," said
Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO. "It's
changing the game and our network for Sprint customers. Just
picture millions in play and on air in homes, parks, sports fields
and stadiums big and small. Sprint Magic Ball will enhance network
performance for customers today and enable even more exciting
wireless experiences when we launch the first 5G mobile network
next year. I can't imagine a sports fan anywhere who wouldn't want
to get in on the action."
Sprint Magic Ball, like the award-winning Sprint Magic Box
introduced last year, connects to a nearby Sprint cell site using
Sprint's ample, dedicated 2.5 GHz spectrum. Wherever it rolls,
soars or is juggled, nearby Sprint customers will have blazing fast
speeds to stream videos, surf the web and use their favorite
apps.
"For more than a year, our team has been working in our labs and
on the fields with the goal of replicating Sprint Magic Box in a
more portable, playable version to further densify our network and
greatly benefit our customers," said Dr. John Saw, Sprint Chief
Technology Officer and head coach of the Sprint Magic Ball team.
"Far more than a smaller small cell, Sprint Magic Ball will have a
giant impact on our Next-Gen Network, particularly as we expand to
new sports and launch the nation's first 5G mobile network."
Bringing small-cell technology to a soccer ball was no small
feat and took a perfect hat trick from Sprint engineers. One, at
the core, the team needed to develop a durable small cell that fit
within the confines and weight requirements of a regulation-sized
soccer ball. Two, the inner-ball technology required ample
protection to withstand everything from powerful penalty kicks and
hard headers to teething puppies and the occasional car tire. And
three, to ensure true portability, the team also incorporated
nanocrystal solar cells on the ball's 32 panels to harness and
store power, even while in use. The winning result is
groundbreaking technology camouflaged in a top-quality, properly
weighted soccer ball that even the pros couldn't tell apart.
Beginning on April 1, 2018, Sprint
Magic Ball will be available for free to Sprint customers in black,
white and yellow models, all emblazoned with the product name and
iconic company logo.
Soccer is just the beginning for Sprint Magic Ball. Sprint
engineers will soon bring their advanced technology to basketballs,
footballs, volleyballs and dodgeballs. They expect to perfect
miniaturization of the small-cell technology next year to fit into
baseballs, tennis, lacrosse and bocce balls, followed by golf and
table tennis balls and potentially hockey and shuffleboard pucks.
Learn more in this video: https://youtu.be/_Ggpqe49Nt8
The Kicker
While Sprint does have a long history of
technological innovations, Sprint Magic Ball is, well…full of hot
air. However, it is true that Sprint is unlocking the value of the
largest mobile broadband spectrum holdings in the U.S. and making a
major, multi-year investment to deliver improved performance and
coverage for its millions of customers.
Sprint's Next-Gen Network build includes upgrading cell sites to
triband service using 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz, and 2.5 GHz, adding
thousands of new cell sites to expand coverage, and densifying the
network with more small cells to increase capacity and speed. This
includes plans for more than a million Sprint Magic Box units
deployed across the country in the next few years (and yes, they
are real). Next month, the company is also launching Massive MIMO
technology, a bridge to the launch of its 5G mobile network in
first half of 2019.
About Sprint:
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications
services company that creates more and better ways to connect
its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint
served 54.6 million connections as of December 31, 2017 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
no-contract 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. Today, Sprint's legacy of
innovation and service continues with an increased investment to
dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its
nationwide network and commitment to launching the
first 5G mobile network in the U.S. You can learn
more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or
www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
1 Don't
give us a red card… Sprint Magic Box is real, but Sprint Magic Ball
isn't. Happy April Fools' Day!
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SOURCE Sprint