Sprint Ramps Up Push Into Federal, Public Sector Markets

**Editor’s Note: Click here to see which channel people were on the move in January.**

Sprint plans to pursue more aggressively the federal and public-sector markets with a portfolio that includes wireless, wireline, security and internet of things (IoT) services over its network.

Sprint has named Chris Felix its vice president of government solutions to lead the effort. Felix has 27 years in the telecommunications industry, including serving the federal government, and leading federal-government sales and operations for Verizon.

Sprint’s Chris Felix

Felix tells Channel Partners the push into the public sector not only will create new growth for Sprint, but also its channel partners. Traditionally, federal and public-sector business is expansive across products, technology and verticals, and this will not only enhance Sprint’s existing channel programs but create many new opportunities, he said.

“As traditional technologies continue to be virtualized and operational efficiency becomes the market driver, the federal government and public sector made it clear the desire to not only consolidate the number of GWACs (government-wide acquisition contracts) but also the technology itself from data centers moving to the cloud to simple consolidation of mobility contracts. In order to compete in this marketplace, partnerships and teaming are now essential in responding to a world looking for service-based and not product-based models.”

Sprint’s relationship with the SoftBank Group will enhance the offerings it provides. OneWeb, a satellite-based service, uses low-orbit satellites strategically located to provide coverage everywhere to take advantage of all the technologies that leverage sensors, big data and communications, Sprint said.

Partners will be critical in responding to the as-a-service models that the public sector clearly is demanding, Felix said.

“Our ability to funnel our resources and spectrum holdings to effectively work with partners will be a major part of our success as we re-enter a marketplace that is rapidly changing,” he said.

Sprint said it continues to make investments in its network. The aim is to increase speed, capacity of any application, ubiquity of coverage, and security and reliability. The Sprint 5G network will offer the federal government “even more secure connectivity to mission-critical information, integrated GPS services to improve real-time situational awareness, and seamless handling of all the platforms that incorporate sensor-provided data,” it said.

”It’s exciting to see Sprint be more aggressive in this space,” said retired Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Sprint board member. “The company is a great American brand with decades of experience serving the government, and will bring added value and innovation to many government organizations and agencies. I’m proud to support efforts that bring a diversified portfolio back to Sprint Business.”