Broadband wireless carrier Clearwire and Intel Corp. said they will join forces to develop and deploy WiMAX wireless broadband networks.
Wireless broadband equipment from Clearwire subsidiary NextNet Wireless will be used for the networks. Future Intel silicon products that will support the upcoming 802.16 standard for WiMAX solutions will also be included in the networks.
Furthermore, under their agreement, Intel Capital will make a “significant” investment in Clearwire as part of its strategy to invest $150 million in wireless technology to accelerate the adoption of high-speed wireless networks.
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Clearwire, led by wireless pioneer Craig McCaw, launched its first broadband wireless network in August in Jacksonville, Fla., using NextNet technology. The company said that network provided a springboard to future WiMAX deployments.
“We view WiMAX as a still-emerging wireless standard that feels more like 4G than the current rollout of 3G wireless data services,” read a research note from Raymond James & Associates Inc. on the news. “We expect WiMAX to have a role in the future of wireless broadband services, but see a late ’07, at best, timeframe for broad nationwide network deployments.”