Sprint Lights up True Mobile 5G in Kansas City

Today Sprint’s on-the-go customers in Kansas City are among the first in the world to experience the power and performance of true mobile 5G. The next generation of wireless service is here, delivering blazing-fast download speeds from downtown Kansas City, MO, to Overland Park, KS, covering approximately 225 square miles and 625,000 people. Sprint 5G will power new experiences for wireless customers in Kansas City, from gaming and entertainment services, to IoT and business applications.

Today Sprint also launched mobile 5G service in areas of Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, with service expected to launch in areas of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks. Sprint mobile 5G will cover approximately 2,180 square miles and 11.5 million people total across all 9 market areas, giving Sprint the largest initial 5G coverage footprint in the U.S.

“We’re proud to be the first operator to launch 5G in Kansas City, and we can’t wait for our hometown customers to experience true mobile 5G,” said Sprint CEO Michel Combes. “Sprint 5G is a platform for innovation that will create new opportunities and growth across a wide range of industries in Kansas City from healthcare and manufacturing, to agriculture, transportation and hospitality.”

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“I’ve been serving the Jackson County area for more than 30 years, witnessing firsthand the evolution of Kansas City into a national leader when it comes to technological innovation,” said U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05). “When Sprint rolled out the 4G service I witnessed the significant impact it had on local business and economic growth. I believe wholeheartedly that 5G will be no different. It will offer new, innovative opportunities for business owners and local communities that other areas won’t be able to match. I’m excited to see what 5G has in store for us, and all of the opportunities it will bring to Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District.”

“As the most connected smart city in the country, Kansas City is pleased to be one of the nation’s first 5G cities,” said Sly James, Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. “The speed and connectivity offered through 5G will help our city implement the latest technologies and remain on the cutting edge of innovation.”

At the foundation of Sprint 5G is Massive MIMO, a breakthrough technology that dramatically improves network capacity. In Kansas City, Sprint is using 64T64R (64 transmitters 64 receivers) 5G Massive MIMO radios from Ericsson. These radios support split-mode, enabling Sprint to simultaneously deliver LTE Advanced and 5G NR service. Sprint’s 5G Massive MIMO radios run on its 2.5 GHz mid-band spectrum, and they are deployed on Sprint’s existing 4G cell sites, providing a nearly identical footprint for both 2.5 GHz LTE and 5G NR coverage.

Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson, said: “Ericsson is working together with Sprint to unleash the power of 5G on Sprint’s network. Our 5G Massive MIMO radios will provide Sprint users with a true next-generation experience, enabling advanced applications for businesses and consumers.”

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The Hottest 5G Devices

Sprint is building one of the largest 5G device portfolios in the U.S. to give customers more choice in how they access 5G. Customers can experience 5G mobility and blazing-fast download speeds with LG V50 ThinQ^TM 5G, HTC 5G Hub, and this summer, Samsung Galaxy S10 5G.

Using a key 5G technology, dual-connectivity (EN-DC), Sprint is delivering 4G LTE and 5G simultaneously to customers’ devices, enabling faster download speeds than before and a better overall experience on capable devices. Additional features include:

• LG V50 ThinQ 5G offers striking clarity and vibrant colors with LG’s OLED display and great audio quality via stereo speakers, DTS:X 3D Surround and Hi-Fi Quad DAC. Gamers can enjoy all the rich graphics and fast-moving fun of their favorite games without delays, whether they’re playing in the living room or at the bus stop. With Sprint’s l*********** pricing, LG V50 ThinQ 5G is just $24 per month with $0 down with Sprint Flex lease – that’s half off the lease price.¹ 
  
  
• HTC 5G Hub is exclusive to Sprint in the U.S. This unique and powerful device enables smooth 4K video streaming for an amazing TV viewing experience, lower latency, virtually buffer-free gaming, and 5G mobile hotspot connectivity for up to 20 users in a compact desktop box with a 5-inch display. Within the Wi-Fi radius of HTC 5G Hub, non-5G devices such as laptops, tablets, phones and TVs can easily experience the speed of Sprint 5G. HTC 5G Hub is just $12.50 per month – that’s a savings of 50%. Customers can activate HTC 5G Hub with 100 GB of high-speed data for just $60 per month for a l***********.² 
  
  
• Samsung Galaxy S10 5G – Sprint customers can also experience Sprint 5G on Samsung Galaxy S10 beginning this summer.

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