Sprint Doubles Down in Chicago

By Ioana Neamt, Associate Editor

Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the Spring for Chicago launch in March 2015

Communication services giant Sprint is claiming a bigger share of the Windy City market.

Together with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the company recently announced a major expansion of its Sprint for Chicago initiative, to bring more than 750 new jobs and nearly $150 million in investments to the metro area by the end of 2016. The news follows a previous statement made in March 2015 at the launch of the Sprint for Chicago initiative, when 300 new jobs were announced.

The initiative focuses on improving customer service and the Sprint brand experience, and will double the company’s headcount in the city. Sprint currently employs more than 800 people and operates more than 160 stores in the Chicago metro area. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Sprint plans to open 115 new stores across the metro—including 46 in the city of Chicago—by the end of 2016, in an effort to win back market share from competitors T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.

“Sprint is doubling down on its commitment to Chicago by adding over one thousand jobs to our city’s economy and further investing in the infrastructure that is bringing both the jobs and the technology to power Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities for the 21^st century,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement.

The 750 new jobs announced at the beginning of September will include new retail positions, wireless experts for Sprint’s Direct 2 You program, as well as network technicians and engineering positions. Chicago will be the first Sprint city to be upgraded to a faster network and benefit from new LTE Advanced technologies.

According to the Mayor’s press office, new cell sites will be added in the areas around Rush University Medical Center, Garfield Park, and along CTA subway routes. This initiative is part of the Mayor’s plan to upgrade the subway’s wireless network to 4G.

Image courtesy of Sprint