CLEARWIRE CORP (CLWR)

[TheFinalCD]

FORBES: Everybody Covets That Clearwire Spectrum
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joanlappin/2011/08/19/everybody-covets-that-clearwire-spectrum/


The spectrum position is important because little Clearwire, as the founding partner, has been quietly assembling an international consortium in the 2.5-2.7 Ghz band which is working to develop a global standard. The advantage that will accrue to the members is that with potential global exposure to billions, not millions, of potential subscribers, handset costs will plunge, a very good thing.




Clearwire provides services to 88 markets in the United States covering 134 million potential subscribers. Clearwire owns rights to radio frequency spectrum in the 2.5 GHz range and provides service primarily using the 4G 802.16e mobile WiMAX standard. Clearwire also provides service to customers in 17 U.S. cities using the Motorola Expedience 802.16d radio interface that the company refers to as "Pre-4G".

Today Clearwire ranks as the fifth largest wireless provider in the US with roughly 11 million subscribers that use the WiMAX network as of January 2012. However, only a little over 1.3 million of subscribers that use Clearwire's network are direct customers, the remainder are Sprint subscribers who gain access to the pre-4G network through a wholesale supply agreement. Clearwire states that this results in a blended mix of revenues that averages $11 per month per subscriber, a figure that is approximately on quarter that of an integrated national mobile operator.

Clearwire provides service in Spain in the 3.4 - 3.6 GHz frequency range.


$A major Sprint investor said any Softbank investment should be used to buy out the rest of Clearwire, to give Sprint attractive wireless spectrum assets and to speed up Clearwire's upgrade of its wireless network with faster data speeds.



"I just don't think there's any deal unless it involves Clearwire. I don't think you'd see one without the other," said Daniel Martino, a fund manager at T. Rowe Price, which owned 47.2 million Sprint shares as of the end of June




REUTERS: Softbank is insisting that it get control of Clearwire(CLWR) in any deal for Sprint, according to report
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/11/us-sprint-softbank-idUSBRE89A0I520121011


Wall Street Journal:

According to the Journal, Softbank, which is building its own WiMax network in Japan, believes the Clearwire spectrum is critical to its U.S. ambitions

http://www.clear.com/



http://blogs.wsj.com/cfo/2012/10/11/time-warner-cable-loses-with-early-clearwire-sale/



NO FREAKIN WONDER WHY THERE WERE OVER 170m SHARES SNATCHED UP TODAY!

ITS CLEAR THAT SOFTBANK WANTS CLEAR AS PART OF THE DEAL!!

Control of Clearwire as part of the deal is important to Softbank, the people said. Clearwire’s spectrum is similar to what Softbank uses in Japan, and could be important to Softbank’s U.S. ambitions.

http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2012/10/11/control-of-clearwire-by-sprint-key-for-softbank/