Sprint Boosts Data Allotments for Mobile-Broadband Plans

Sprint Nextel Corp. (S), the third- largest U.S. wireless operator, boosted the amount of data that customers can use with service plans for laptops, tablets and other mobile-broadband devices.

Sprint will offer 6 gigabytes of data for $49.99 a month, up from 5 gigabytes, and 12 gigabytes for $79.99, up from 10 gigabytes, the company said in a statement today. The new data plans don’t apply to smartphones.

Sprint said its plans deliver about 20 percent more data for the same price than similar plans from Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. (T) Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile-phone operator, charges $50 a month for 5 gigabytes of data, according to its website.

“They want to show they remain competitive in the marketplace and want people to think of Sprint as an affordable data operator,” said Walt Piecyk, an analyst with BTIG LLC in New York.

Sprint, based in Overland Park, Kansas, is trying to compete against larger rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T for mobile customers. Sprint last month reported its 16th straight quarterly loss.

Sprint discontinued its unlimited data plan for tablets and other mobile-broadband devices Nov. 1.

To contact the reporter on this story: Scott Moritz in New York at smoritz6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net