Sprint and Clearwire will not be partnering after all to deploy a WiMAX network in the US. I’ve been very critical of this deal from an anti-competitive point of view. Sprint and Clearwire will not be partnering after all to deploy a WiMAX network in the US, according to the Wall Street Journal. I’ve been very critical of this deal from an anti-competitive point of view. But now it appears that Sprint, whose CEO has been forced to step down, is delaying its WiMAX rollout.
Sprint and Clearwire announced their plan to share the cost of rolling out WiMAX back in July of this year. Sprint’s delay means Clearwire will have to go it alone. That means a slowdown in the rollout of WiMAX.
And why indeed should people want WiMAX cards in their computers or portable devices if the network isn’t widely deployed? Why should I get WiMAX service from Clearwire if it’s only in a few places?
A dilemma for Clearwire.
A question regards to WiMax … why are people still harping on about WiMax when 5GHz networks “are” being deployed, when computer manufacturers (i.e. Dell) are deploying 2.4GHz/5GHz ready wireless laptops.
WiMax as a standard has still not been confirmed (unless I have missed something) and from what I have seen of “pre-WiMax” equipment, the costs seem to be enormous when compared with 5GHz equipment.
Surely, as a means to overcome the last mile issue, WiMax is not going to be a commercially adopted medium or a consumer ready technology within the next 2 years (which could mean it is already redundant) whereas other technologies that can connect the “unconnected” customer are available today.
Food for thought.
t.
You missed something: http://standards.ieee.org/announcements/pr_p80216.html
WiMax is still moving forward in Sprint, this was really more the ‘roaming’ contract with ClearWire. Can someone define *why* there is such animosity for WiMax? That’s what I am missing.
And why indeed should people want WiMAX cards in their computers or portable devices if the network isn’t widely deployed?
I’m sure its optional. I know many people with WiFi that don’t use it. The point is that it will be deployed.
Why should I get WiMAX service from Clearwire if it’s only in a few places?
You are thinking mobile here. Clearwire’s starting focus was wireless broadband, as in, in your house. I can use the same “only in a few places” for any MuniWifi project, so I’m lost with that one. ClearWire was, and will continue to stay in areas that *have* no other choice. I can’t see that as a bad thing as *something* is always better than nothing.
Keep your eye on the 700 MHz spectrum action. This is where it think wireless broadband backhaul is going. It is clear we need some type of wireless backhaul to support mobile mesh networks. Maybe at last this is the answer.