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Clearwire In Talks with T-Mobile USA for Funding

Sep 24, 2010, 9:55 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Clearwire has indicated that its next round of funding will likely come from taking on debt, though it would prefer to receive an equity investment from a new partner. Clearwire said that it is in talks with T-Mobile USA in hopes that the U.S.'s fourth-largest network operator will make an equity investment in Clearwire, for which it will receive rented access to Clearwire's WiMax network at special rates. Speaking at an investor conference, Clearwire CEO Bill Morrow said, "In the event we don't come to an equity arrangement, they could be a wholesale customer." With no equity investment, T-Mobile USA would pay a higher rate for access to Clearwire's WiMax network. Morrow also indicated that Clearwire is exploring the idea of selling excess spectrum inventory that it doesn't need. "By putting the spectrum sale on the table, other considerations get better for us," Morrow said. Clearwire will need new funding by the end of 2011, which is when Morrow hopes to have things settled. Clearwire investor Comcast has said recently that it won't contribute any more funding to Clearwire, and Sprint (which owns 54% of Clearwire) has said it doesn't have the cash to byt Clearwire out-right, which is what it would prefer.

Reuters »

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Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

silverbullet1976

Sep 27, 2010, 12:36 PM

A Good Idea

Sprint has done an amazing job at turning the ship before the iceberg with Dan Hesse at the helm. Launching a 4G network was a smart move, drawing consumers and investors alike. And having a setup that can be switched to LTE by a software upgrade(supposedly) was even smarter. Now may be the time to start. Right now Clearwire needs money and a source of it has dried up. If they don't get it, they may falter. If Dan is as smart as I think he is, he will switch to LTE and partner with TMo once they are ready to take the jump. For the time being letting them be a equity holder will keep things going. It wont be like '05 and Nextel. There were two different networks and dummies running the show. Tmo and Sprint on LTE would make them around 8...
(continues)

glinc

Sep 24, 2010, 10:10 AM

Fail

When a company has so many "owners" it will eventually fail because when someone like Comcast doesn't want to give any more money to expand, others will follow sooner or later.

Jayshmay

Clear is huge with marketing, and there are quite a few stores in Vegas. They must have a good amount of customers who are paying to access WiMax. There's got to be some cash flow.

...

ygbhen

Tmobile wants their spectrum but i seriuosly doubt they are willing to do any other type of agreement. Clear should just keep enough spectrum to fulfill their Wimax buildout and sell the rest. If they have a large spectrum portfolio as they claim then...
(continues)

...

justfinethanku

Sep 25, 2010, 1:08 PM

Everyone want's 4G?

Not bad enough to support it's development I guess.

Oh well.

mingkee

Sep 24, 2010, 10:56 PM

DT should pick them up

Nobody would feed Clear, then DT do it!
Not only can offer fully unlimited wireless internet, but DT will have more spectrum for the future.

maokh

Sep 24, 2010, 4:32 PM

T-Mobile, step back slowly...

AND RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN..

Slammer

Why?

Tmo does not have enough spectrum to successfully launch a 4G network on their own, while Clear has the most out of all the carriers.

Tmo needs spectrum. Clear needs funding. Personally, I couldn't see better partnership.

John B.

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