Comments on article at: www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/2010/06/sprint_nextels_network_faces_steep_competition.html

I do not doubt that Sprint Nextel’s network needs upgrading. Sprint’s 3G network was a mess 3 years ago. With the restructuring that has been going on, is it any wonder the carrier still has issues in certain markets?

The PC magazine’s study basically is documenting what many people already believe. I get it but does it really matter? As for competition in the network business; NO KIDDING.

My advice to Dan Hesse: read the study, understand the context in which the study was made, know the questions asked, understand how the data was collected, and remember AT&T may have won the data speeds but it is getting the worse press imaginable thanks to the iPhone.

I do not doubt the integrity of the data in the survey but after awhile you need to read these studies without panicking.

The funny thing about studies is that even though they may say Carrier X has a fast network, when you ask the customer what they think of Carrier X they may have nothing but scorn for Carrier X. Let us not forget that about a year ago, AT&T stated it would pour money into its 3G network; it had to because the iPhone’s data demands were crushing the AT&T network. If you did not know that little tidbit, you might be thinking: “Hey this carrier has its act together” rather than “AT&T blew it and got caught”. You need to consider studies in context.

If you are going to worry about network studies, Sprint and the other carriers need to prepare for third-party reviews of their 4G networks. Sprint’s 3G network is still important to Sprint and its customers. However, Sprint needs to focus the majority of its resources on getting its 4G network operational.

Sprint needs to focus on building-out its 4G network. What’s done is done, move on; focus on 4G.