Sprint expands LTE roaming agreements with 12 carriers

Sprint announced on Monday that it will bolster its 4G LTE network through roaming agreements with 12 regional carriers.

The mostly rural carriers include: SouthernLINC Wireless, C Spire Wireless, nTelos, Nex-Tech Wireless, Flat Wireless, SI Wireless, Inland Cellular, Illinois Valley Cellular, Carolina West Wireless, James Valley Telecommunications, VTel Wireless, and Phoenix Wireless.

The newly expanded roaming network covers 34 million people across 23 states and some 352,000 square miles. Divided among the dozen carriers, Sprint's main focus is to create more wireless choice and competition across rural American markets.

According to Sprint, customers will be able to roam on the 4G LTE networks of the new partners and vice versa. Sprint is also working with the 12 carriers in the hopes they will participate in their "device and infrastructure ecosystem," aimed at helping to lower local network costs while also providing access to a more diverse device portfolio.