Sprint, Clearwire may help drive LTE convergence

Co-operation between Sprint Nextel and Clearwire on LTE should help to bring two versions of that technology together, leading to increased device choices and roaming opportunities for subscribers in developed markets, PCWorld writes.

Sprint disclosed on Wednesday that it has agreed to work with Clearwire to make the two carriers' LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks work together. Sprint will turn to Clearwire for additional capacity to fill growing mobile data demand, probably beginning in 2013.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the deal would allow Sprint to use Clearwire's network to provide services to its customers after the current pact expires at the end of 2012, said the people, who would not be identified because the matter is not public.

Though details are still being negotiated, and a final deal is not certain, the price Sprint pays for its traffic is likely to fall, the people said.

Bloomberg Businessweek reports that a new wholesale agreement would put Clearwire, the money-losing wireless broadband provider, on more stable financial ground.

The company has said it needs about $1 billion to shift its network to LTE wireless technology and finance its operations. Sprint, the third-largest US wireless operator, owns a majority of Clearwire and is its largest wholesale customer.