Clearwire launches WiMAX in New York, expands coverage to 82M

Clearwire Corp. (CLWR) made good on its previous announcement to launch its WiMAX network in New York City today, as well as markets in Connecticut, New Jersey and Florida.
The carrier said its network covers 11 million people in the New York City area; nearly 1.5 million people in New Haven and Hartford, Conn.; 250,000 people in Trenton, N.J.; and nearly 2 million people in the Tampa, Fla., area. As part of the New York City launch, Clearwire added that it also covers more than 630,000 people in parts of Northern New Jersey.
Clearwire had begun seeding device sales in New York back in September. Analysts have noted that the New York launch will be watched closely as the city’s dense urban environment will be a test for the carrier’s 2.5 GHz spectrum that could be challenged to provide sufficient in-building coverage.
The expansion boosts Clearwire’s WiMAX coverage to 82 million potential customers in 62 markets. The carrier has said it plans to cover around 120 million pops by the end of the year.
As part of the expansion, Sprint Nextel Corp. (S), which controls a majority stake in Clearwire and relies on the carrier’s WiMAX network for its “4G” service, said it has launched service in New York City as well. The carrier did not mention any expansion of its branded offering in the other markets launched by Clearwire, but has said it will follow Clearwire’s upcoming launches in Los Angeles on Dec. 1 and in San Francisco by the end of the year.
There has been some tension between the Sprint Nextel and Clearwire in recent months over the manner in which Clearwire continues to put its efforts behind the branded offering. Sprint Nextel’s management has expressed its desire for Clearwire to focus its efforts on building out its network, while Clearwire has noted that a vast majority of its revenues still derive from its branded service.
Verizon Wireless recently announced that it planned to unveil its LTE-powered next-generation network in 38 markets by the end of the year, including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.