Sprint upgrading its network

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 | 10:05 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sprint Corp. announced today that it has begun transforming its telephone network so voice calls are transmitted in "packets" -- the same way data moves over the Internet. The move is designed to lead to a wide range of improved services for consumers, such as online voice-mail management.

While an increasing percentage of calls these days skip traditional phone circuits and are routed as data packets, Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint said it was the first major telecommunications company in the country to begin converting its entire network to the newer system.

Mike Fuller, president of Sprint's local telecom division, said the technology will make it be cheaper for Sprint to grow its network and enable the company to provide such services as video calling and online phone-message management. The technology also could let a person use a single phone number at multiple locations.

The first transition began today in Gardner, Kan. Six other cities are scheduled to make the transition this year, including Boulder City, which is scheduled for a fourth-quarter switch. Detra Page, a spokeswoman for Sprint in Las Vegas, said customers should not notice the change. A transition date for Las Vegas has not been announced.