Sprint – Full Speed Ahead WiMAX? Hesse Pulls It Off? Look Out LTE?

 

Not more than 4 months ago, the naysayers were casting doubt on Sprint Nextel’s ability and chances of ever deploying WiMAX. I believed Sprint could deploy WiMAX.  However, due to the recession I took a more cautious position and believed Sprint could only handle a few small deployments in small markets.

 

Sprint will be deploying WiMAX in Texas, Washington, Hawaii, Idaho, North Carolina and Oregon. These new WiMAX deployments join the previously announced markets of Atlanta; Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth; Honolulu; Las Vegas; Portland, Ore.; Philadelphia and Seattle. In 2010, Sprint will be deploying WiMAX in Boston, Houston, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C..

 

Impressive.

 

The actual systems may be small but the mere fact Sprint is deploying in major markets is impressive. In this case size does not matter. In this case the mere presence in major markets does matter.

 

Sprint Nextel now needs to focus on commercializing the WiMAX in a big way otherwise the effort will have been wasted. Dan Hesse needs to be humbly shouting at the top of his lungs; promoting the benefits of Sprint Nextel’s brand new high speed wireless network. If the network performs well, Sprint Nextel can claim to be the first to deploy 4G network technology.

 

As for the LTE proponents; it is time to pour on the development speed without breaking the bank.

 

In order for WiMAX to take a dominant position as a 4G technology it will need to address two issues.

 

One issue is whether or not Sprint Nextel’s WiMAX and Clearwire’s WiMAX networks will result in any significant wireless broadband sales.

 

The other issue is whether or not Sprint and Clearwire can leverage their WiMAX networks for their cable TV partners; Comcast, Time Warner, and Bright House. Now is the time to show off what WiMAX can do.