Sprint Phasing Out iDEN Network Next Year, Making Way for LTE

Sprint will shut down its older iDEN network as early as June of next year, and will re-purpose the freed-up spectrum to its upcoming 4G LTE network. The network is currently being used for push-to-talk service, but Sprint is transitioning people to a newer version that runs over its CDMA network.

The company announced today that it plans to help customers move from the iDEN Nextel National Network to its Sprint Direct Connect network as part of its Network Vision plan.

Network Vision is a plan that represents a nationwide update of the Sprint network where it will consolidate multiple network technologies into one seamless network. It is also expected to add economic value for Sprint from its reduced roaming cost and energy cost savings to name a few.

Sprint anticipates that the iDEN network will be completely inoperable as early as June 30, 2013. They have started discontinuing the sales of iDEN devices in specific channels and will stop selling these devices over the next several months. Sprint will begin informing customers of the shutdown starting June 1.

When the iDEN network is shut down next year, Sprint's plan is to use the spectrum for LTE. Unil then, Sprint will be offering its LTE network on a different set of frequencies soon.