A couple weeks ago, we looked into a report suggesting some of the ways Sprint might go about getting itself set up with an LTE network, as part of its transition away from WiMAX. We noted that we’d get the chance to learn more and confirm or deny all that information at a presentation the carrier was planning for discussing its network strategy. That event is currently underway, and so far Sprint has detailed its plans for LTE adoption.

The goal is to get LTE running and ready to take on its first subscribers by mid-next-year. At the forefront of Sprint’s strategy is not wasting any more time and getting LTE out as quickly and completely as possible; it hopes to complete its initial deployment by mid-2013. That won’t mean a stop to seeing WiMAX-compatible 4G smartphones anytime soon, with sales planned to continue throughout next year.

In the meantime, Sprint will be upgrading its cell sites with hardware capable of handling CDMA, iDEN, and WiMAX on the same tower. The move from iDEN to CDMA PTT should be done by mid-2013. As far as bands go, CDMA will see itself relegated to 800MHz, while LTE will find a home up on 1900MHz, as it’s introduced. Assuming LightSquared works out its GPS issues, its 1600MHz band will be available for additional capacity, and Clearwire’s 2500MHz WiMAX freqs remain as a last option.

Source: This Is My Next