Are Cisco and Alcaltel-Lucent getting behind Clearwire WiMAX?
Is networking hardware giant Cisco ready to throw its hat a bit deeper into the U.S. WiMax market ring? Looks that way from the press conference invite that just landed in our in-box, inviting us to a webcast on Monday, June 9, that will discuss “a new initiative by industry leaders in mobility to stimulate more innovation and new entrants into the WiMAX ecosystem.” The roster of attendees includes Cisco, Clearwire, Alcatel-Lucent, Intel, Samsung and Sprint.
While Cisco and Alcatel-Lucent already have existing WiMax businesses — Cisco bought gear supplier startup Navini last fall, and AlcaLu is behind some smaller operations in the U.S. — both were significantly absent from any previous association with the old Clearwire, the old Sprint Xohm plan, or the new Clearwire WiMax announcements. Cisco CEO John Chambers has previously said that Navini was purchased with overseas customers in mind, but that may be changing due to the new ambitious plans of the new Clearwire and its deep-pocket investors Google and Comcast. Intel and Samsung are already neck-deep in Clearwire partnering, with Intel supplying $1.62 billion in investment cash and Samsung building network infrastructure along the East Coast.
Our best guess is that this new group is forming to do some sort of clearinghouse or testing/certification for Mobile WiMax back-end gear and devices, the kind of activity that is necessary to “stimulate innovation and new entrants” by making it easier to assure customers that it will all work together.
Paul Kapustka is the editor of Sidecut Reports, which has recently published an updated report on the state of WiMax deployments in the U.S., focusing on the new Clearwire deal.
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