Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) has announced that it has completed a five-year, $50 million project to clear wireless spectrum for the national broadband Internet plan.
Sprint said that it had more than 1,000 engineers, technicians, tower climbers and laborers worked to replace antiquated microwave and other equipment with more than 100,000 pieces of high-performing equipment capable of operating more efficiently with less spectrum range. The work was done for about 1,000 broadcasters in U.S., Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
The process has cleared 35 megahertz of spectrum as part of President Barack Obama’s ambitious effort of freeing-up 500 MHz of wireless broadband spectrum as part of a national wireless broadband plan.
The completion of the BAS spectrum transition project drew praise from the nation’s broadcasting industry.
“The National Association of Broadcasters congratulates Sprint on completing the herculean task of transitioning the broadcast auxiliary services to a new, more efficient spectrum plan in the 2 GHz frequency band,” said Gordon H. Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and former U.S. Senator from Oregon. “During this process, NAB’s members worked closely with Sprint’s network of engineers, technicians and other skilled personnel. We applaud the successful result that we all achieved, despite the highly complex, comprehensive nature of the BAS transition. “
