Sprint announced the first of several planned international 4G roaming agreements. In Jamaica and Taiwan, Sprint customers can now roam on host 4G networks with $15 day passes.
Sprint
customers now have access to 4G networks when travelling in Taiwan and Jamaica,
the carrier announced Jan. 31. Through new partnerships with Digicel in Jamaica
and Global Mobile in Taiwan, Sprint customers with Sprint 4G devices that
feature the Sprint SmartView Connection Manager will be able to detect these
new 4G options automatically where they're available.
The roaming
option will be offered as an unlimited 24-hour "day pass" for $14.99, not
including taxes and surcharges. The announcement was the first of several
worldwide roaming agreements that are in the works.
"Digicel is
proud to have the first and only 4G network in Jamaica," Mark Linehan, CEO of
Digicel Jamaica, said in a statement. "We look forward to welcoming Sprint
customers and are positive that they will delight in roaming with Jamaica's
fastest wireless broadband."
Sprint
customers will also be able to roam on these additional networks using Sprint's
3G/4G U600 USB modem.
"Over the
years, we've built a robust ecosystem of partners that dwarves any other 4G
ecosystem available today, and as the first U.S. wireless carrier to launch
international 4G roaming, we've clearly demonstrated our leadership," Todd
Rowley, vice president of Sprint 4G, said in a statement.
Sprint's 4G
network is now available in 71 U.S. markets, including New York, Los Angeles,
San Francisco and Washington, D.C. While the carrier was the first to offer 4G
speeds to U.S. customers, it's no longer alone. In December,
Verizon Wireless launched its 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution)
network, kicking off in 38 markets and 60 commercial airports, which
the company said is just the beginning of its efforts to cover over its 3G
footprint.
In early
November,
T-Mobile did the same, offering a 4G network
based on HSPA+ (Evolved High-Speed Packet Access) technology in 75 metropolitan
areas, with plans of covering 200 million people by year's end. In a Nov. 2
press statement, T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray said that the footprint of the
carrier's 4G network "is not something that competitors are going to match
anytime soon."
Finally,
AT&T-whose wireless customer base
inched ahead of Verizon Wireless' during the
fourth quarter of 2010-will also join the 4G race in mid 2011, following the
completion of its roll-out of HSPA+ technology across its 3G footprint.
Sprint
customers can expect to hear of more 4G roaming announcements for more
locations later this year.
"We are
definitely working hard to complete some agreements and get them out there,"
Sprint spokesperson John Votava told eWEEK. "It's definitely in our plans."
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