According to Bloomberg, Deutsche Telecom is in preliminary talks with Clearwire and MetroPCS regarding access to 4G spectrum and network owned by both companies in order to expand T-Mobile USA’s network footprint following the US subsidiary announcing its first deployment of HSPA+ services last Friday in Philadelphia.
Bloomberg is citing unamed sources that state Sprint, MetroPCS and T-Mobile USA are also involved in the discussions, with Deutsche Telekom looking for the least expensive path to 4G network deployment in the US, with the venerable Sprint-Deutsche Telekom tie up rumor making the rounds once again in recent weeks.
Clearwire is currently deploying Clear WiMax service in the US while Deutsche Telekom has committed to LTE in Europe. Metro PCS and Clear hold spectrum in the 700MHz and 2.5GHz bands which are licensed for LTE and WiMax deployment respectively, although Clear has maintained that it could easily switch between standards if necessary.
T-Mobile USA has yet to complete its 3G rollout which began last year, let alone choose a 4G standard with Clear needing an additional $2 billion in funding by year-end to complete its initial network rollout and to meet its launch targets, with speculation stating that Deutsche Telekom is willing to provide additional funding in exchange for access to its WiMax network.
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I knew T Mobile hadn’t picked a 4G platform yet, leaving room for them to get on the WiMax train
Its going to be interesting how this works out. Which one is really faster…LTE or WIMAX? Has anyone seen or heard any info on the wimax/gsm phone from htc?
I’m thinking T-Mo wants the 700 Mhz spectrum for LTE deployment, leaving the 2.5 GHz for Clearwire WiMax. VZW and AT&T have licensed blocks of 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment too, so I’m wondering how this will work out in overlapping markets.
Well, this would make alot more sense for Deutsche Telekom than to try to purchase Sprint. Trying to purchase Sprint would be financial suicide for DT. Imagine the difficulty(if not impossibility) in trying to converge all 3 networks(cdma,gsm, & iden). Not to mention the fact that the Justice Dept. would never in a million years ever approve the merger ! I dont think they would feel to comfortable in knowing that the 3rd largest telecommunications company in the united states would be controlled by a foreign government(DT is 30% owned by the german government)………