Of the four largest wireless operators in the US, Sprint has been the least vocal about its plans for 5G. That changed on its third-quarter earnings call Friday morning when CEO Marcelo Claure said the operator would have "the first truly mobile 5G network in the US in the first half of 2019."
Sprint will deploy 5G nationwide on 2.5GHz band in 100MHz channels and has also promised a 5G device around the time of its launch. If Sprint can deliver, it will beat out T-Mobile, which also promised to be the first to launch a nationwide 5G network, but gave 2020 as its deadline. (See 5G Across the Globe: Where the Puck's Going and 5G in the US Heats Up – Sort Of.)
Light Reading's Dan Jones has all the details on Sprint's 5G plans, including the network upgrades required for deployment, on Light Reading today: Sprint Promises Mobile 5G in H1 2019, Signals More Job Cuts.
—Sarah Thomas, Contributing Editor, Telco Transformation