General

In THEORY, yes, 800 MHz signal should have better penetration through various building materials as compared to 1900 MHz signal.

HOWEVER, the overall design of the network and placement of towers/antennas VASTLY OVERWHELMS the theoretical difference between 800 MHz and 1900 MHz signal frequencies in terms of the customers' effective signal strength.

Verizon's 1900 MHz CDMA network overall has much better coverage and is at least as good in terms of building penetration than the Nextel iDEN 850 MHz spectrum you are talking about Sprint using to enhance its CDMA network.

I can attest to this personally, because I've carried Nextel for nine years, while spouse has carried Verizon for the same period. We are very frequently in the same place at the same time, both with our phones on, and I can tell you without any reservation that overall Verizon's 1900 MHz CDMA network has better performance in far more places than does Nextel's 850 MHz system. And I'm talking about places where both companies' coverage maps indicate both have "good" signal strength.

Theorey and real-world conditions are usually vastly different from each other, so generalized statements like "800 MHz will have better building penetration" are misleading and generally incorrect IN THE REAL WORLD.

Verizon made a point of creating a network with more towers/antennas, well-aimed and well-maintained, which is why their 1900 MHz network overall kicks booty, even when compared to everyone else's 800 MHz networks in the same coverage areas.

It really IS the network, not just the frequency of transmission, that matters.