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Sprint, Verizon rolling out EV-DO Rev. B?

Categories: LTE, Sprint, Verizon, WiMAX
By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 at 10:58 AM


There’s some interesting statements coming out of Telecom Pragmatics this morning, as the research firm is saying that Sprint and Verizon aren’t putting all its eggs in the 4G basket and plan to roll out 3G based on EV-DO Rev. B technology.

Unlike 4G networks, EV-DO Rev. B could use the existing infrastructure to deliver a little bit faster mobile data than what Sprint and Verizon currently offer with 3G. The research firm’s study said the carriers may roll out its 4G networks in certain parts of the country while using the updated 3G for other parts. The only problem with this, according to Telecom Pragmatics, is that is could require different chips in handsets to work.

I’m still waiting on official word from Sprint and Verizon but this makes a certain degree of sense. The companies are hard at work pushing out 4G services and networks – Sprint is currently using WiMax and Verizon is making an aggressive push to roll out a next-generation mobile data network based on Long-Term Evolution. Sprint is about to roll out the first U.S. smartphone capable of taking advantage with the Evo 4G and Verizon could have up to five LTE handsets by this time next year.

But it takes a lot of time and money to cover the United States with ubiquitous mobile data – the 3G rollout essentially began a decade ago and we’re not at 100% coverage yet. It’s only prudent for Sprint, Verizon and other carriers to have a backup network if you leave a 4G region. Additionally, it would be smart of these companies to leverage its existing 3G infrastructures and investments as much as possible. So, whatever the technology behind it is, 3G is not going away anytime soon.

It’s always so much more fun to think about 10 Mbps on the go because it opens up a world of possibilities. Check out our 4G mobile shootout for some more information of the next generation of mobile data networks.

(Update :) Just heard word from Verizon’s Brenda Raney and, like I suspected, there’s no official confirmation or denial of EV-DO Rev. B. Love the response though.

We’ve announced we are moving to LTE for 4G technology and we’ve said that we will continue to support our EV-DO network for at least a decade.

[Via Telecom Pragmatics, photo]

About The Author

Marin Perez

Marin Perez has torture tested cell phones and smartphones for industry leaders like CNET and InformationWeek. He remembers when 4G was just a screen on PowerPoint presentations and is fascinated with the amount of innovation out there. Marin has spent a lot of time with BlackBerry and Android but he finally broke down a bought an iPhone to see what all the hype's about. He also has too many tablets.

  • nyob

    Marin, don't read too much into this…Unlike several years ago where RevB would be a game shifting Mobile Broadband experience, my guess is that this is merely a slow technological upgrade; not a vast, network wide initiative. But, i am not involved with it and I am just guessing.

    Let's say the New York market, has 2-3 EVDO carriers deployed and Sprint/Verizon want to balance the traffic across the carriers and improve throughput. It's difficult to do this on a frequency by frequency basis and manage it, in real time. However, if they simply swap out the EVDO card for a RevB card, they can aggregate the frequencies/traffic into a larger pipe. This would be performed in areas where multiple carriers exist and the economics make sense. And of course, it negates any HSPA advantages.

    I would think of this upgrade, as a market by market decision. Clearly, the game changing MBB experience is in WiMAX and LTE.

    P.S. good luck in prying my overdrive from my cold, dead hands. :-)