4G alliances: Verizon and Spirent; Clearwire with WalMart and HTC
Published: 21 January, 2010
READ MORE: US | Verizon | Clearwire | Spirent Communications | Testing/Certification | LTE | WiMAX | Android
Continued ...
One of the key elements of Clearwire's expansion model is to add to its network of partners to boost revenue streams and market coverage. Sources say Sprint is negotiating a deal to bring it the most valuable partner of all in terms of customer reach, retail behemoth WalMart.
Many reports are circulating that Sprint will ally with WalMart to mount WiMAX base stations on some or all of its 3,500-plus stores. This would reduce the cost of building out the Clearwire network, especially in the rural and suburban areas in which WalMart is strongest, and in return the supermarket chain would get improved broadband connections to support its own internal operations, and possibly customer hotspots.
It could also result in an MVNO deal, allowing the retailer to offer fixed and mobile broadband services tied into its key locations, under its own brand. Presumably, favorable reseller terms would be agreed in return for the use of its store roofs and grounds. Such a deal would help Clearwire reach its ambitious coverage targets and bring it within reach of a vast customer base (about 100m people visit a WalMart outlet each week). WalMart already has a low cost mobile MVNO, Straight Talk, which is a rebadged version of the prepaid offering from TracFone Wireless (TracFone, in turn, is part of America Movil, and an MVNO running on the Verizon CDMA network).
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