Wireless Internet provider Clearwire, which pioneered the 4G WiMAX network with its partner, Sprint Nextel, will hedge its bets by branching out into another 4G technology, LTE. Long Term Evolution is the standard that will soon provide 4G coverage for Verizon Wireless and AT&T’s network as well as markets around the world.
Clearwire announced Wednesday that it will begin testing a new network in Phoenix, Ariz., with Huawei Technologies, the infrastructure provider that deployed the first commercial LTE network in Europe. Clearwire now uses the same spectrum band and flexible base-station platform in the United States.
‘Technology Agnostic’
Clearwire isn’t giving up on WiMAX. The Kirkland, Wash.-based company, which describes itself as “technology agnostic,” is still committed to WiMAX for its current 4G plan. But with a growing number of LTE devices expected to be available in coming years — Samsung and MetroPCS last week won approval for the first LTE phone — Clearwire wants to conduct technical trials to see how it could have the best of both worlds.
“WiMAX provides us with unique advantages to meet the needs of our customers today,” said Dr. John Saw, Clearwire’s chief technology officer. “Ultimately, consumers don’t care about technical acronyms, but they do care about quality and affordable Internet services that work where and when they want, and that’s what we’re focused on delivering.”
Clearwire’s plan shows how tech companies may adapt to the rapidly changing wireless landscape by covering as many bases as they can, creating bridges between current and future technologies.
“WiMAX is certainly getting broad adoption internationally where there isn’t any underlying broadband like in the U.S. and Europe,” said analyst Gerry Purdy of MobilTrax. “As far as Clearwire, they will continue to use WiMAX and partner with Sprint. Look at the Sprint Overdrive [a mobile hot-spot device released in April] as a… Details
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