WASHINGTON-Cellular pioneer Craig McCaw today unveiled plans to leverage wireless broadband technology to compete against telephone and cable TV companies in the high-speed Internet market, an undertaking he will pursue as chairman of Clearwire Corp.
“We come into this opportunity with our eyes open to the challenges and difficulties associated with competing against giants in the communications arena,” said McCaw, who delivered the keynote address at the Wireless Communications Association International conference this morning.
“Yet, we have worked diligently to combine a team of people that have a track record for providing exceptional customer experiences in wireless that we believe can make a difference with a unique and powerful technology,” said McCaw. “Wireless technology can open the gate that has restricted widespread access to broadband services and provide a very simple and satisfying consumer experience.”
McCaw put Clearwire in position to be a major force in wireless broadband by buying several companies and acquiring licensed spectrum throughout the country during the past two years.
Clearwire recently completed an acquisition of NextNet, developer of a widely deployed non-line-of-sight plug-and-play broadband wireless access system. NextNet technology has been commercially deployed for more than two years and is installed in 20 markets around the world, including Mexico, Canada, the United States, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Clearwire said it will use the technology platform, modified with its own proprietary technology, to power its Internet Protocol-based wireless network.
Clearwire said it intends to launch commercial service in Jacksonville, Fla., this summer and expects to roll out service in a number of other markets in the United States and overseas later this year.
Contrary to some press reports, McCaw-who rose to stardom in the cell-phone industry before faltering in the mobile satellite and competitive local phone markets-is not attempting a grandiose conquest of the broadband market. Rather, he is taking a somewhat cautious, measured approach to the broadband space.
“We very modestly are going forward, respectful of the littered wasteland of bankrupt companies in telecom,” said McCaw.
McCaw said Clearwire does not support a Federal Communications Commission plan to take some spectrum from educational licensees in 2.5 GHz band and auction it to wireless broadband companies.
