Although challenges remain, the "perfect storm" affecting the telecom industry is giving way to new growth opportunities, said Gary Forsee, Sprint's chairman and CEO, speaking at Smith Barney Citigroup's Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference in Phoenix. From Sprint's perspective, 2003 was characterized by big strides in financial restructuring and debt reduction, new product growth, operational improvements, leadership changes and product rationalization (write off of MMDS spectrum, exiting from the hosting business, exiting from the publishing business). Some highlights of the presentation:
- PCS Group expects to add 390,000 net direct subscribers and 1 million net total subscribers in Q4. Customer churn is expected to be 2.7 percent, which includes five weeks of local number portability impact. Gross additions are expected to be slightly better than 1.65 million.
- Sprint FON Group expects just over 300,000 DSL subscribers at year end.
- Total subscribers for Sprint Complete Sense, Sprint's competitive local service initiative, are expected to be approximately 280,000.
