Broadband

January 31, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC – CTIA - The Wireless Association® President and CEO Steve Largent issued the following statement in response to a report released today by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) entitled, “Networked Nation: Broadband in America 2007”:

“We commend NTIA for its efforts to review the state of broadband service in the United States. This report is yet further evidence that more and more Americans are choosing mobile wireless as their high-speed on-ramp to the internet. Thanks to a light-touch regulatory approach in an intensely competitive marketplace, rapid deployment of wireless broadband services has become an affordable reality for millions of consumers across the nation.

“The statistics speak for themselves. According to the latest FCC broadband data, mobile wireless high-speed subscribership increased more than 600% from 2005 to 2006 alone. As the growth rate of mobile wireless broadband continues to skyrocket above and beyond any other broadband platform, there’s no denying the tremendous value and affordability wireless offers consumers.”

Source: CTIA

Powerful network, innovative devices and value-added mobility solutions give customers the power of unmatched wireless capabilities

Sprint showcased a range of new and emerging mobility capabilities as part of its activities at CTIA Wireless, March 27-29 in Orlando, Fla. Highlights include:

Network

Sprint Mobile Broadband Revision A – Sprint customers at CTIA Wireless and throughout the Orlando area will join the 140 million people in more than 5,400 communities who can enjoy access to the upgraded Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, which provides users faster data speeds and the ability to ultimately use richer applications and services such as high-speed video telephony, music-on-demand, video messaging and large file uploads. The industry's largest mobile broadband network in Orlando and other upgraded markets will allow customers to experience significantly faster average data speeds comparable to some DSL offerings. Sprint's upgraded mobile broadband network was awarded the coveted PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award, selected by a panel of PC Magazine editors and leading industry experts.

CTIA-The Wireless Association® reports that wireless data service revenues for 2006 rose to $15.2 billion. This represents a 77% increase over 2005, when data revenue was $8.6 billion Data revenue represents money that wireless carriers earn on services other than voice. Wireless data revenues now total roughly 13% of all wireless service revenues.

“Wireless broadband is providing mobile subscribers with the ability to access content like never before,” said CTIA–The Wireless Association® President and CEO Steve Largent. “Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission reported that 59% of all new high-speed lines were wireless. Wireless broadband is growing faster than cable and DSL combined and because of that fact subscribers are accessing new and exciting types of content on their mobile devices.”

The CTIA Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey was released at CTIA WIRELESS 2007®.