Sprint To Convert Network To Packet TechnologySprint To Convert Network To Packet Technology

Sprint Corp. plans in the next couple of years to convert its local phone networks from conventional circuit-switched technology to an all-packet infrastructure, becoming the first U.S. incumbent local phone company to convert its entire network to packet technology. Sprint has awarded a $1.1 billion network equipment and services contract to Nortel Networks Corp. for the project's first phase, which begins in January 2003 and ends in July 2006. During that time, Sprint will convert 3.6 million phone lines to packet technology.

"Sprint is justifying this big infrastructure changeover on the basis of cost reductions for existing services," since it's more cost-effective to build and operate a packet-based network than it is to keep operating an aging circuit-switched network, says Blaik Kirby, a VP of telecom consulting firm Adventis Corp.

Eventually, Sprint's plan will encompass all of the 8.3 million phone lines served by its local telecommunications division. The plan also will involve the replacement of the local phone division's circuit-switched local Class 4 and Class 5 voice switches with technology Sprint calls subscriber line over asynchronous transfer mode. That will allow Sprint to carry on a single network all the traffic that's currently carried on three separate networks for voice, data, and private line services.

The transition to a fully packet-based infrastructure will also hasten the delivery of advanced data services to businesses by making services such as ATM, frame relay, and digital subscriber line available in more areas, according to Sprint.