T-Mobile searching for spectrum, in talks with Clearwire?

In an investors meeting on Thursday, T-Mobile USA CEO Robert Dotson told investors that the nation’s #4 wireless carrier is turning to third parties including Clearwire as a potential means of increasing spectrum as it faces a future filled with 4G offerings from its competitors. Rumors of a joint venture with Clearwire originally surface last September when Bloomberg reported that T-Mobile was in talks with Clearwire in a negotiation that involved a cash investment from T-Mobile USA parent Deutsche Telecom in exchange for access to Clearwire’s growing 4G  network and spectrum resources. Clearwire is in an enviable position having already rolled out an active and robust 4G network and is armed with ample spectrum. The 4G wireless provider owns up to 150MHz of spectrum in some areas and has 30MHz chunks that it is using for its WiMAX network. T-Mobile could license some of Clearwire’s ample spectrum as it begins the arduous and expensive process of rolling out LTE or, alternatively, T-Mobile could abandon its plans to pursue LTE and jump feet first into 4G by piggy backing on Clearwire’s 4G network. Though the outcome of T-Mobile’s decision regarding its future network resources is not known, one thing is clear: love it or hate it, Clearwire will most likely continue to be an integral part of our 4G future.

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