Sprint Corporation

Sprint Corporation

Company type	Subsidiary (former public company)
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	1899
Founder	Cleyson Brown
Defunct	August 2, 2020 (2020-08-02)
Fate	Acquired by T-Mobile US; brand discontinued
Headquarters	Kansas , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Michel Combes (CEO, final)
Products	Wireless voice, messaging, broadband services; subsidiaries include Boost Mobile and Open Mobile
Owner	T-Mobile US (since 2013 majority control by SoftBank Group until acquisition)
Parent	T-Mobile US

Sprint Corporation was a prominent American telecommunications firm, ranking as the fourth-largest mobile network operator in the United States prior to its acquisition by T-Mobile US on April 1, 2020. By June 30, 2019, Sprint had a customer base of 54.3 million, providing wireless voice, messaging, and broadband services through its subsidiaries such as Boost Mobile and Open Mobile, alongside offering wholesale network access.

In July 2013, the Japanese telecommunications conglomerate SoftBank Group gained majority control of Sprint. The company operated networks based on CDMA, EvDO, and 4G LTE technologies and had formerly supported iDEN, WiMAX, and 5G NR standards. Sprint was legally incorporated in the state of Kansas.

Established in 1899 by entrepreneur Cleyson Brown as the Brown Telephone Company in Kansas, Sprint divested from the local landline sector in 2006 by spinning off those operations into Embarq, which subsequently became part of Lumen Technologies. Prior to 2005, the company was known simply as Sprint Corporation but adopted the name Sprint Nextel Corporation following its merger with Nextel Communications. After discontinuing the Nextel network and SoftBank’s acquisition in 2013, it returned to the Sprint Corporation name. That same year, Sprint completed the full acquisition of broadband provider Clearwire Corporation.

The company experienced leadership transitions with CEOs changing from Dan Hesse to Marcelo Claure in August 2014, followed by Michel Combes assuming the role in May 2018; Combes concentrated efforts on obtaining regulatory approval for the merger with T-Mobile.

Following its acquisition by T-Mobile in April 2020, Sprint became a subsidiary until its brand was officially discontinued on August 2, 2020. Subsequently, all retail operations, customer support, and branding were integrated under T-Mobile’s umbrella with new pricing plans introduced while maintaining existing plans for a minimum of three years. The complete transition of customers to T-Mobile by summer 2023 marked the conclusion of Sprint’s independent presence.

Founding Period

Sprint Corporation's roots can be traced back to the Brown Telephone Company and the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Brown Telephone Company

The Brown Telephone Company was established in 1899 by Cleyson Brown to deliver telephone services in the rural areas around Abilene, Kansas. In 1900, the company launched its initial long-distance circuit, positioning itself as a competitor to the then-dominant Bell Telephone Company. In 1911, C. L. Brown combined Brown Telephone with three other independent firms to create United Telephone Company. Later, in 1925, he founded United Telephone and Electric (UT&E), which was restructured into United Utilities by 1939.

Paul H. Henson took over as president of United Utilities in 1964 and subsequently became chairman. When he joined in 1959, the company operated 575,000 telephone lines across 15 states and generated $65 million in revenue. Henson was instrumental in pioneering the first significant fiber optic network, which improved both call capacity and audio clarity.

In 1972, United Utilities adopted the name United Telecommunications. By 1980, it was constructing a fiber optic network spanning 23,000 miles for long-distance communications and had achieved profitability in this sector by 1989. Upon Henson’s retirement in 1990, the company’s revenue had reached $8 billion.

Southern Pacific Communications and Sprint's Emergence

Sprint’s lineage also stems from the Southern Pacific Railroad (SPR), which began operations in the 1860s as a subsidiary of Southern Pacific Company (SPC). Managing extensive railroads and telegraph lines, SPC began utilizing its communications infrastructure for long-distance telephony in the early 1970s through its Southern Pacific Communications Company division. By the mid-1970s, SPC challenged AT&T's monopoly, resulting in litigation that generally supported increased market competition. Although long-distance voice service faced regulatory restrictions, SPC was authorized to provide a fax service known as SpeedFAX.

To rename this division, SPC held a contest that yielded the name "SPRINT," an acronym for "Southern Pacific Railroad Internal Networking Telephony," highlighting its telecommunications heritage.

Mergers and Rebranding as Sprint Corporation

In 1982, GTE Corp. agreed to purchase SPC's long-distance telephone business, including Sprint, with the transaction concluding in 1983. By 1986, GTE Sprint merged with United Telecommunications Inc.'s US Telecom to create US Sprint Communications, a joint venture involving GTE Telenet and United Telecom Data Communications Co. United Telecom increased its ownership stake by 1988 and assumed operational control. The full acquisition was finalized on April 18, 1990, after which United Telecom adopted the name Sprint Corporation to capitalize on the brand’s established recognition.

This consolidation was pivotal for Sprint’s growth within telecommunications, expanding its market presence and preparing it for future development in global markets and service portfolios.

Entry into Canadian Market

Sprint Corporation ventured into Canada during the early 1990s as a reseller of bulk long-distance telephone services due to Canadian foreign ownership restrictions preventing it from operating a proprietary network. In 1993, Sprint partnered strategically with Call-Net Enterprises by acquiring a 25% interest. Call-Net’s long-distance offerings were rebranded as "Sprint Canada" and extended to include landline and internet services. In 2005, Rogers Communications purchased Call-Net along with Sprint Canada's customer base of approximately 600,000 subscribers.

Return to wireless

In March 1993, Sprint combined forces with Centel Corp., a Chicago-based company, rebranding the cellular division as Sprint Cellular Co. To adhere to FCC mandates, Sprint separated its cellular business into a new entity called 360° Communications in 1994. This company was later bought by Alltel in 1998, which itself was acquired by Verizon in 2009.

That same year, Sprint joined forces with prominent cable providers—Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI), Comcast, and Cox Cable—to establish a nationwide wireless personal communications service (PCS) network. This initiative aimed to integrate wireless connectivity with local telephone, long-distance calling, and cable television services.

By 1995, Sprint and its cable collaborators partnered with American Personal Communications (APC) to create a digital wireless network. In November of that year, Sprint introduced its wireless offering under the Sprint Spectrum brand in the Baltimore-Washington region, marking the launch of the first commercial PCS network in the United States. Initially deploying GSM technology in this local market, Sprint’s broader network later transitioned to CDMA technology. In 1999, Sprint divested its retired GSM infrastructure to Omnipoint, which was subsequently acquired by VoiceStream Wireless; both entities were eventually integrated into T-Mobile.

Partnerships and consolidation

In September 1996, Sprint formed a partnership with RadioShack, establishing communication product and service outlets within RadioShack stores nationwide.

On October 5, 1999, Sprint and MCI WorldCom revealed plans for a $129 billion merger—the largest corporate merger proposed at that time. Regulatory authorities including the United States Department of Justice and the European Union raised antitrust concerns regarding potential monopolistic effects, resulting in the deal’s cancellation.

Throughout 1999, Sprint initiated a consolidation strategy named "One Sprint," merging its local telecommunications, long-distance, wireline, and wireless divisions. In April 2004, the company retired its separately traded wireless tracking stock PCS and incorporated it into its primary FON ticker on the New York Stock Exchange. This action led to litigation from PCS shareholders who alleged losses caused by unfavorable stock conversion terms.

Merger of Sprint Corporation and Nextel Communications

On December 15, 2004, Sprint Corporation and Nextel Communications announced their intention to merge in a $35 billion deal creating Sprint Nextel Corporation. For tax considerations, the structure involved Sprint acquiring a 50.1% controlling interest in Nextel. At that point, Sprint held the third-largest position in the U.S. mobile market while Nextel ranked fifth.

Sprint’s shareholders gave their approval for the merger in July 2005, followed by regulatory clearance from both the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of Justice in August of that year. The merger finalized on August 13, 2005.

The union faced resistance from regional affiliates worried about diminished competition. On September 1, 2005, Sprint Nextel consolidated plan offerings across both brands to deliver a more unified service experience.

Nextel licensed its brand to NII Holdings, Inc., where Sprint Nextel initially held an 18% ownership stake; however, this investment was eventually divested by Nextel.

Post-merger integration encountered difficulties stemming from conflicting network technologies. To bridge services between PCS and DirectConnect networks, Sprint introduced PowerSource phones; nonetheless, coverage issues remained unresolved. Several key executives from Nextel exited shortly after the merger; CEO Tim Donahue shifted to executive chairman before handing operational control to Sprint CEO Gary D. Forsee. Cultural clashes contributed to significant management turnover within two years following the merger.

In 2006, Sprint spun off its local telephone business as Embarq.

From a financial perspective, the acquisition proved costly; in 2008 Sprint recorded a $29.7 billion write-down on the $36 billion paid for Nextel—an impairment of approximately 80%, reflecting substantial goodwill depreciation.

Affiliate purchases and agreements

Prior to merging, Sprint and Nextel depended on a network of affiliated companies. Upon announcing their merger, certain affiliates expressed concerns about potential breaches of contracts or diminished revenues. To resolve these issues, Sprint Nextel engaged in negotiations that led to acquisitions or revised agreements, ultimately bringing several affiliates under direct ownership to ensure their backing and streamline operations.

From 2005 through 2007, Sprint Nextel acquired several significant affiliates such as US Unwired, Gulf Coast Wireless, IWO Holdings, Alamosa PCS (the largest), Ubiquitel, Enterprise Communications, Northern PCS, and Nextel Partners. These transactions considerably increased Sprint Nextel’s subscriber base and bolstered its position in the market. After the 2020 Sprint-T-Mobile merger, T-Mobile took over the final two affiliates, Shentel and Swiftel, in 2021.

Notable affiliate acquisitions include:

• August 13, 2005: Purchased US Unwired for $1.3 billion, adding 500,000 subscribers.
• October 3, 2005: Acquired Gulf Coast Wireless with a customer base of 95,000 in Louisiana and Mississippi.
• October 20, 2005: Completed acquisition of IWO Holdings to improve coverage in New England.
• February 2, 2006: Finalized $4.3 billion acquisition of Alamosa Holdings, gaining 1.48 million customers.
• Early 2006: Obtained Enterprise Communications (52,000 subscribers) and Velocita Wireless to strengthen iDEN spectrum assets.
• June 26, 2006: Closed $6.5 billion deal for Nextel Partners, adding more than 2 million customers.
• July 7, 2006: Acquired Ubiquitel PCS Corporation.
• August 2, 2007: Purchased Northern PCS for $312.5 million including assumed debt.
• July 28, 2009: Bought Virgin Mobile USA for $483 million, incorporating 5 million prepaid subscribers through MVNO arrangements.
• October 19, 2009: Agreed to acquire iPCS for $831 million.

These acquisitions played a critical role in Sprint Nextel’s expansion and consolidation efforts within the wireless sector.

Headquarters consolidation at Overland Park

After merging with Nextel, the company maintained dual headquarters located in Reston, Virginia and Overland Park, Kansas. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse recognized this dual setup as an obstacle to seamless integration and cultural cohesion. To optimize operational efficiency and unify corporate culture, Hesse centralized all headquarters functions at the Sprint World Headquarters Campus in Overland Park, Kansas, thereby strengthening strategic leadership from one primary location.

SoftBank Corporation acquisition

On October 14, 2012, Japanese telecom leader SoftBank announced its intention to purchase a 70% stake in Sprint Nextel Corporation for $20.1 billion. The plan was to keep Sprint as an independent entity while upgrading its network infrastructure to fully LTE technology. In April 2013, Dish Network submitted a competing bid of $25.5 billion but withdrew by June to concentrate on acquiring Clearwire, a pursuit it eventually abandoned. This withdrawal cleared the path for SoftBank’s acquisition which was approved by the United States Federal Communications Commission, with key commissioners endorsing the transaction as serving the public interest. The deal officially closed on July 10, 2013.

By August 6, 2013, SoftBank had increased its ownership stake to roughly 80% by purchasing additional shares of Sprint stock, thereby solidifying its controlling interest and reinforcing its strategic growth objectives within the international telecommunications market.

Additional acquisitions

On November 7, 2012, Sprint Nextel revealed its purchase of 20 MHz of spectrum along with 585,000 subscribers from U.S. Cellular covering Chicago, St. Louis, central Illinois, and other Midwest regions. This transaction was finalized by mid-2013.

Prior to July 9, 2013, Sprint Nextel possessed a 50.8% ownership interest in Clearwire Corporation. On December 17, 2012, Sprint committed to acquiring the remaining shares at $2.2 billion, valuing each share at $2.97. Subsequently, on June 20, 2013, Sprint raised its bid to $5 per share. Regulatory approval was granted on July 5, and the deal closed on July 9, resulting in Sprint becoming the sole proprietor of Clearwire and all its assets.

On March 31, 2015, the acquisition of electronics retailer RadioShack by Standard General for $160 million received approval. Beginning April 10, Sprint collaborated with RadioShack to establish co-located stores in 1,435 locations, allocating about one-third of retail space to Sprint’s products and services. This partnership more than doubled Sprint’s retail presence and positioned it as the dominant brand within those outlets.

On January 23, 2017, Sprint secured a one-third equity stake in music streaming platform Tidal, broadening its digital media service offerings.

Wireline operations

Sprint operates as a wireline IP network provider and long-distance telecommunications carrier, ranking fourth nationwide in subscriber count for long-distance services.

In 2006, Sprint exited the local landline market by spinning off its assets into Embarq, which was later acquired by CenturyTel in 2008 and rebranded as CenturyLink.

SprintLink

SprintLink functions as a global Tier 1 Internet service provider featuring a 100G Internet backbone. Its clientele includes multinational corporations, governmental bodies, retail chains, as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 ISPs and small-to-medium enterprises. The network extends across 155 countries including locations in the U.S., Western Europe, East Asia, Australia, and India. Infrastructure comprises buried fiber optic cables throughout the U.S. and Europe and submarine cables spanning the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. SprintLink also oversees cable maintenance for the TAT-14 Consortium. In 2008, Sprint enhanced SprintLink’s capacity to support 100 Gbit/s connections and selected Ciena in 2012 to upgrade further to speeds of 400 Gbit/s.

Ethernet services

Sprint introduced Ethernet services over its IP/MPLS network in 40 markets during 2007 and expanded this coverage to 65 markets by September 2011. In 2016, it launched Ethernet over copper and Ethernet over DOCSIS options alongside its Fiber Ethernet offerings to diversify its product suite and extend market penetration.

Sprint Web Services

Through its Sprint Web Services initiative, the company delivers managed web-based applications tailored for enterprise clients, facilitating scalable digital growth solutions.

IoT & Connected Services

In collaboration with Samsung, VMware, and Prodapt in 2015, Sprint enabled the Connected Officer program for the Los Angeles Police Department, demonstrating its pioneering role in IoT technology and connected service advancements.

Telecommunications Relay Services

Sprint wireline offers traditional telecommunications relay service (TRS), speech-to-speech relay (STS), and captioned telephone service (CTS). The company is in the process of transitioning from a TDM system to an IP-based network to enhance operational efficiency and improve the overall customer experience.

Sprint branded services

Sprint Corporation primarily provided postpaid wireless voice and data offerings under the Sprint brand name.

Sprint Prepaid Group

Established in May 2010, the Sprint Prepaid Group oversaw the management of Sprint’s prepaid subsidiaries. Their products and services were distributed both online and through major retail chains such as Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.

Boost Mobile

Boost Worldwide, Inc., a fully owned subsidiary of Sprint, delivered prepaid wireless voice, messaging, and broadband data services nationwide under the Boost Mobile brand. Functioning as an MVNO on Sprint’s CDMA, EVDO, WiMAX, LTE, and LTE Advanced networks, Boost Mobile catered to budget-conscious customers throughout the contiguous United States.

Sprint Smart Velocity

Sprint Velocity represented Sprint’s Connected Vehicle Platform, introduced in 2012 through a collaboration with Chrysler to embed wireless technology into automotive systems.

Wireless wholesale operations and affiliates

Sprint broadened its network reach by partnering with affiliates that operated network infrastructure and retail locations under the Sprint name. These affiliates leased PCS spectrum from Sprint in specific territories—often rural or smaller markets—while Sprint managed billing and customer support. Despite intricate revenue-sharing models, customers enjoyed uninterrupted roaming between Sprint-operated and affiliate networks. Prominent affiliates included Swiftel Communications in South Dakota and Shentel covering areas in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. Following the Nextel acquisition, relations with affiliates became more strained.

Sprint Rural Alliance

Members of the Sprint Rural Alliance (SRA) operated their own equipment and services under independent branding but utilized Sprint’s spectrum. In return, Sprint maintained ownership of spectrum licenses for these regions. Key SRA members included Alaska DigiTel in Alaska. Past members such as Alltel Wireless in Montana (later acquired by AT&T), Pioneer Cellular in Kansas and Oklahoma (which discontinued its agreement with Sprint in 2012 to align with Verizon), and nTelos in West Virginia (which merged into Shentel) highlight the evolving nature of Sprint’s rural partnerships.

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs)

Sprint Corporation provided network capacity on its CDMA2000, EVDO, and LTE infrastructures to various mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), enabling these providers to offer services via Sprint’s network. Sprint’s prepaid brands functioned as wholly owned subsidiaries on these networks rather than as MVNOs.

Bring Your Own Sprint Device

Through its "Bring Your Own Sprint Device" initiative, Sprint permitted select MVNOs to activate previously used Sprint-branded phones. This program aimed to minimize electronic waste while providing customers with alternatives to traditional subsidized device pricing.

Custom Branded Device Initiative

Sprint introduced the "Custom Branded Device Program" for MVNOs, supplying unbranded Android smartphones that were certified to operate on Sprint’s network. This program allowed MVNOs to personalize these devices by incorporating their own branded applications through Sprint’s Mobile ID and Mobile Zone platforms, enabling them to offer tailored products without any Sprint branding.

Data Roaming Partnerships

On May 9, 2006, Sprint Nextel and Alltel formed a Nationwide Roaming alliance, permitting Alltel subscribers to utilize Sprint's 1x and EV-DO networks, and reciprocally allowing Sprint customers access to Alltel’s coverage. This mutual roaming arrangement enhanced both companies' service reach in urban and rural areas and was scheduled to conclude in 2016.

Sprint also maintained reciprocal data roaming agreements with Verizon Wireless, granting Sprint customers access to Verizon's 1x and EVDO networks for multimedia services such as television and streaming. Furthermore, roaming agreements existed between Sprint and U.S. Cellular for 1xRTT, EVDO, and LTE voice/data services, as well as with AT&T for LTE roaming—usually operating at 3G speeds. In certain instances during 2017, Sprint devices utilized Verizon's CDMA network for voice calls while connecting to AT&T’s LTE network for data transmission.

After the 2018 announcement of the merger between Sprint and T-Mobile, Sprint users gained unrestricted roaming access to T-Mobile's LTE network until Sprint’s infrastructure was fully retired. This arrangement improved network coverage and ensured smoother service continuity throughout the transition period.

Wireless Networks

Sprint operated across multiple frequency bands supporting CDMA, LTE, and NR technologies within the United States:

Frequency Band	Band Number	Protocol	Generation	Status	Notes
800 MHz Secondary 800 MHz	10	IS-95/1xRTT/ EVDO/1X Advanced	2G/3G	Decommissioned	The CDMA network was fully discontinued on May 31, 2022.
1.9 GHz PCS	1
700 MHz Upper C Block	13	LTE/LTE-A	4G		Service limited to Puerto Rico and the USVI, operated under the Open Mobile brand. The LTE network was completely decommissioned on June 30, 2022.
850 MHz E-CLR	26
1.9 GHz E-PCS	25
2.5 GHz BRS/EBS	41
5.2 GHz U-NII	46
2.5 GHz BRS/EBS	n41	NR	5G		The 5G deployment on this band was terminated by T-Mobile as of July 1, 2020.

CDMA

Sprint operated a nationwide CDMA network primarily within the 1.9 GHz PCS band. By 2007, its EV-DO "Power Vision" 3G service reached over 260 million people and eventually expanded to cover more than 300 million points of presence (PoPs). The company implemented eHRPD technology to facilitate seamless handoffs between LTE and EV-DO networks. After merging with T-Mobile US, Sprint’s CDMA infrastructure was fully shut down on May 31, 2022.

LTE

Sprint discontinued its WiMAX rollout on July 28, 2011, shifting focus toward LTE technology which has broader global adoption. Initially, Sprint had entered into a long-term partnership with LightSquared for spectrum access and network services; however, this agreement was terminated due to regulatory complications.

In its October 2011 Strategy Update, Sprint revealed plans for LTE deployment with Samsung commencing installations in Chicago that same month. The company anticipated reaching LTE coverage for approximately 123 million people in 2012 and expanding beyond 250 million by the end of 2013.

The LTE rollout officially began in January 2012 across major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, expanding to cover fifteen cities by mid-2012. Deployment primarily utilized the PCS G block at 1900 MHz initially; coverage later included A-F blocks along with the 850 MHz E-CLR and the 2500 MHz BRS/EBS bands.

In February 2013, Sprint’s Prepaid Group—which manages Virgin Mobile USA and Boost Mobile—started offering LTE-enabled devices and services. By April 2016, Sprint’s LTE footprint encompassed over 300 million PoPs.

Selective deployment of VoLTE was implemented with compatible devices including iPhones newer than the iPhone 8 model and select high-end Android smartphones. VoLTE worked in conjunction with Wi-Fi Calling technology to maintain high-quality voice connections across different networks.

Following the merger with T-Mobile US, Sprint’s LTE network was officially decommissioned on June 30, 2022.

Mobile devices

Sprint provided an extensive selection of wireless and mobile broadband gadgets from top-tier manufacturers, pre-installed with operating systems such as Android and iOS. Prominent device collaborators included Apple, BlackBerry, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp, Sonim, and ZTE.

Broadband for the home via Sprint Mobile

To broaden its broadband portfolio, Sprint introduced a co-branded Broadband Wireless Access Point in partnership with Linksys (a division of Cisco). This device allowed customers to establish wireless networks at home or in the office, connecting several devices to Sprint’s PowerVision network. Offering an alternative to conventional cable or DSL broadband services, it enabled users to bypass local providers and access more affordable VoIP options through Sprint’s high-speed infrastructure, thereby strengthening the company’s position in broadband service delivery.

Sprint Music Plus

Sprint ventured into the digital music arena by launching the Sprint Music Store on October 31, 2005, collaborating with leading record labels such as EMI, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group, and Universal. Within its first year, the store achieved sales exceeding 8 million tracks, aided by promotional free song offerings. In 2007, Sprint introduced a pricing structure that allowed subscribers of Vision packs priced at $15 or above to download songs for 99 cents each.

Renamed Sprint Music Plus in 2011 and operated by RealNetworks, the platform expanded its catalog to include full-length music files alongside ringback tones and ringtones. From July 2013 onward, management was transferred to OnMobile Global based in Bangalore, India. This progression highlighted Sprint’s strategic move into digital content services as part of its wider business strategy.

Google Play

Starting May 16, 2012, Sprint enabled its customers to charge Google Play app purchases directly to their mobile phone bills, simplifying the process of digital payments.

Sprint Airave and Magic Box

On September 17, 2007, Sprint Nextel introduced the Airave device designed to enhance indoor cellular reception over an area of roughly 5000 square feet. It supported up to three concurrent VOIP calls via a broadband connection and was compatible exclusively with Sprint CDMA phones. The device could limit usage to authorized individuals but utilized the customer’s internet bandwidth, which might affect overall speed. Importantly, Sprint provided Airave units free of charge when coverage was insufficient.

The Airave 2.0 model increased capacity to support six devices with data functionality and required a landline internet connection such as DSL or cable modem. The subsequent Airave 2.5 version improved performance reliability and added two LAN ports.

The Airave 3.0 received FCC approval in late 2016 and became available in 2017; it transmitted both CDMA and LTE signals on band 41 and included a WAN RJ45 port along with two Ethernet LAN ports, relying on cable internet connectivity.

In contrast, the Magic Box generated its own Band 41 LTE signal independently without needing a cable connection. Designed for placement near windows, it extended LTE coverage inside buildings as well as outdoors up to distances exceeding 100 meters.

CLEAR

CLEAR served as the mobile broadband brand under Clearwire Corporation, which Sprint Nextel acquired in July 2013. It offered mobile and fixed wireless broadband services across Belgium, Spain, and the United States. By September 2013, Sprint had phased out the CLEAR brand, halting any new customer sign-ups under that name.

Common Cents Mobile

On May 13, 2010, Sprint Nextel introduced the prepaid wireless MVNO Common Cents Mobile, aimed at budget-conscious users with voice and text rates of $.07 per minute. Initially available exclusively through Walmart stores, plans to extend its availability to other retailers were never realized.

Sprint discontinued Common Cents Mobile on May 18, 2011, migrating its subscribers to Virgin Mobile USA’s payLo service. This transition maintained customers’ existing pricing while consolidating Sprint’s prepaid brands to simplify its portfolio and sharpen market focus.

Nextel Direct Connect

Following its merger with Nextel Communications, Sprint Nextel retired the iDEN (Nextel National) network to reallocate spectrum for LTE deployment. As a result, the Nextel Direct Connect walkie-talkie service was discontinued, with many users transitioning to Sprint Direct Connect operating on the CDMA platform.

Virgin Mobile and Assurance Wireless

Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., a fully owned subsidiary of Sprint, provided prepaid wireless voice, messaging, and broadband services throughout the contiguous United States under the Virgin Mobile, payLo, and "Assurance Wireless Brought to You by Virgin Mobile" brands. Functioning as an MVNO, it utilized Sprint’s CDMA, EVDO, WiMAX, and LTE networks.

Under the Assurance Wireless brand, Virgin Mobile also delivered a lifeline telephone program funded by the FCC’s Universal Service Fund. This initiative offered eligible low-income customers in 31 states a complimentary wireless phone along with 250 free local and domestic long-distance minutes each month, all without contracts or fees.

iDEN

The iDEN network operated by Sprint Nextel ran on the 800 MHz and 900 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) bands. Acquired through the 2005 merger with Nextel, iDEN combined push-to-talk walkie-talkie capabilities with private phone communication services. Sprint marketed this push-to-talk functionality under the Nextel Direct Connect name.

As part of its "Network Vision" plan announced in 2010 by CEO Dan Hesse, Sprint decided to retire the iDEN network to lower operational expenses and concentrate on expanding its 3G CDMA and 4G LTE infrastructure. By mid-2012, iDEN devices were no longer promoted, and the network was completely shut down by June 30, 2013. This strategy enhanced Sprint’s network efficiency while aligning with its broader focus on LTE technology.

Radio Frequency Range	Band Number	Generation	Radio Interface	Status
800 MHz ESMR	N/A	2G	iDEN	Decommissioned
900 MHz ESMR	N/A	2G	iDEN	Decommissioned

WiMAX

Sprint Corporation operated a 4G WiMAX network within the 2.5 GHz frequency band, initially overseen by Clearwire Corporation prior to its acquisition. The company provided WiMAX data services not only to its prepaid brands Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile but also extended these services to various mobile virtual network operators through wholesale contracts.

Sprint Nextel obtained licenses for the 2.5 GHz spectrum to deploy 4G services, launching its WiMAX network under the Xohm brand. On May 7, 2008, Sprint Nextel combined its WiMAX operations with Clearwire by acquiring an equity stake and subsequently gaining full control after outbidding Dish Network. This merger was finalized on November 28, 2008.

The initial WiMAX launch by Sprint Nextel occurred in Baltimore on October 8, 2008, featuring dual-mode devices capable of both 3G and 4G connectivity. Service coverage soon expanded to additional metropolitan areas such as Chicago and Philadelphia.

In April 2011, Sprint agreed to pay over $1 billion to Clearwire for continued access to the WiMAX infrastructure through 2012. This arrangement was later extended through 2015, covering Sprint, its subsidiaries, and wholesale clients. On July 9, 2013, Sprint completed the acquisition of all remaining Clearwire shares and assets.

As part of a strategic shift, Sprint began transitioning WiMAX subscribers to LTE-compatible devices to repurpose the 2.5 GHz band for TDD LTE technology. By July 2013, the company introduced tri-band devices supporting TDD-LTE within this spectrum.

Sprint originally scheduled the discontinuation of its WiMAX network for November 6, 2015; however, a Massachusetts Superior Court injunction postponed the shutdown by 90 days following legal challenges from nonprofits Mobile Beacon and Mobile Citizen. These organizations contended that terminating service breached agreements guaranteeing high-speed internet access for low-income households and public entities. Sprint pledged to upgrade equipment and work toward resolving these issues. Partial network shutdowns proceeded in some locations despite ongoing disputes.

By February 2016, judicial approval allowed Sprint to continue deactivating WiMAX service in remaining markets. On February 2, networks in 16 cities—including New York City—were taken offline; another 39 cities followed on February 29; and the final phase saw shutdowns in 25 additional cities completed by March 31, 2016.

Device unlocking

For devices released after February 15, 2015, Sprint unlocked phones once customers fulfilled Lease/Service/Billing Agreement terms and maintained accounts in good standing.

Conversely, devices launched prior to this date were not authorized by Sprint for GSM network use on U.S. competitors such as T-Mobile or AT&T. Unlike other carriers with more permissive unlocking policies, Sprint only permitted unlocking of devices for international travel after receiving customer support approval. This restrictive approach confined pre-2015 Sprint devices exclusively to its own network ecosystem, which notably diminished resale values—especially for iPhones that ranked lowest among major U.S. carriers in secondary market value. Although unlocking methods existed unofficially, they often compromised device functionality and were illegal under the DMCA until the passage of the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act in 2014 legalized phone unlocking.

FCC fine over Do Not Call rule breaches

In May 2014, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission imposed a $7.5 million penalty on Sprint for failing to respect consumer requests to opt out of marketing calls and text messages. The company was required to implement a comprehensive two-year compliance program that included employee training focused on Do Not Call regulations. This enforcement action underscored the critical importance of adhering to regulatory standards within Sprint’s customer communication practices.

Legal adherence

From September 2008 through October 2009, Sprint Nextel fulfilled U.S. legal obligations by supplying law enforcement agencies with GPS location data of its wireless subscribers over eight million instances. This information was made available through a secure portal specifically designed for governmental use, allowing automatic access once reviewed and authorized by Sprint's surveillance division.

Promotional campaigns

In 2016, Sprint introduced a significant television advertising initiative emphasizing its network reliability, claiming performance within 1% of competitors such as Verizon. The commercials featured actor Paul Marcarelli, recognized for Verizon's "Can you hear me now?" catchphrase, who endorsed Sprint's pricing at roughly half the cost of other carriers with the slogan "Don't let a 1% difference cost you twice as much."

Cinema

Sprint products appeared prominently in movies including Men in Black II (2002), The Departed (2006), Superbad (2007), 27 Dresses (2008), Eagle Eye (2008), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), and The Gambler (2014), strategically boosting brand exposure through entertainment collaborations.

Music

As the official wireless sponsor of the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, Sprint provided its Power Vision subscribers with complimentary live simulcast access on their devices, utilizing event sponsorship to connect with its target audience.

Athletics

Featured in Time Magazine's November 13, 2006 edition as one of the Best Inventions of 2006, Sprint Nextel's NASCAR FanView was a handheld PDA operating on Sprint’s data network that offered fans live race broadcasts, multiple in-car camera views, real-time driver and team audio, radio coverage, and exclusive audio replays.

Between 2008 and 2016, Sprint served as the title sponsor for NASCAR's top racing series, renamed the Sprint Cup Series in 2008. The company maintained this sponsorship until 2016 before Monster Energy assumed the role.

Sprint also held naming rights to the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, which was rebranded as the T-Mobile Center after the 2020 merger.

In December 2011, Sprint entered into a multi-year exclusive agreement with the National Basketball Association (NBA) as its official wireless partner. Additionally, Sprint sponsored the Copa América Centenario tournament in 2016.

Television

Sprint supported several prominent TV series including Fox's 24 and Fringe. It was a principal sponsor for NBC programs such as Heroes, delivering exclusive online content to subscribers, and acted as mobile sponsor for NBC's The Voice.

On CBS, Sprint backed reality competitions like Big Brother and Survivor, facilitating audience participation by enabling weekly votes for "Player of the Game."

See also

• Open Handset Alliance
• SoftBank Corporation

External links

• Archived Official Site (Wireless)