Sprint's iDEN shutdown may impact Clearwire's network
2012-08-01 09:46 by Daniela
Sprint Nextel's shut down of its iDEN network is a major element of its Network Vision network modernization plan, but it also could cause their partner Clearwire to let go of some its own mobile WiMAX sites earlier than expected, according to a regulatory filing. "We concluded that, for certain of the Network and base station equipment at these sites, it is not likely that we would continue to operate our equipment at the current location once Sprint decommissions its site," according to the filing. "Therefore, we determined the useful lives of the Network and base station equipment at these sites should be accelerated beginning in the first quarter of 2012 from a weighted-average remaining useful life of approximately 5 years to approximately 1 - 2 years based on the expected date of decommissioning." It is not clear how many Clearwire cell sites are co-located with iDEN cell sites. Currently, Clearwire's WiMAX network covers 134 million people across the country. "We are working closely with Sprint to mitigate any possible effect on our WiMAX customers and on our LTE build," Clearwire spokesman Mike DiGioia told FierceWireless. "This work is still underway and customers can continue to use WiMAX as they normally would." He declined to give a precise figure for how many Clearwire cell sites may be affected by the iDEN decommissioning but said it is a "small number of sites." Sprint remains a major shareholder in Clearwire, though as of June it was no longer a majority shareholder. Late last year, Sprint agreed to invest up to $1.6 billion in Clearwire, and both companies have agreed to work together on the roll out of a new LTE network. Read more -here-
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