Two telecom forces join for the first WiMAX nationwide mobile broadband network

Jul 19, 2007 12:39 GMT  ·  By

Sprint Nextel and Clearwire have partnered in order to bring the first nationwide mobile broadband network using WiMAX technology. They expect to reach considerably better results than those made possible through the efforts of the companies alone.

Sprint Nextel will take into consideration the geographic areas which include almost 200 million people, while Clearwire will cover areas of more than 100 million people. Only a third of them will benefit from network coverage by the end of next year. For this to be possible, Clearwire will have the chance of using Sprint Nextel's infrastructure.

Gary Forsee, Sprint Nextel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said about this solution that "It will further our objective of delivering mobile WiMAX service across the country and help fulfill our vision of delivering mobility products and services across all our networks".

Moreover, they consider that "This arrangement will result in stronger competition in the rapidly growing market for broadband services, and will provide consumers, national enterprises and other businesses, educators and public safety agencies greater choice and faster access to a revolutionary mobile broadband technology", as Gary Forsee further added.

The WiMAX services that Sprint Nextel and Clearwire will provide are going to find themselves under the same brand name. Both companies will offer reciprocal roaming service to each others' WiMAX customers. Moreover, Clearwire is set to also bring to their customers Sprint Nexte's third generation voice and data services, as part of a bundle on a stand-alone basis.

The first step towards the mobile WiMAX network will start by the end of this year with the hope to launch it towards the half of year 2008. The two companies are currently working with other leading handset hardware producers, such as Intel, Motorola, Samsung and Nokia in order to benefit from their solutions and provide mobile WiMAX access at best standards.