Sprint Nextel intends to
launch Mobile WiMAX broadband services in initial markets by year-end
2007 with a larger roll-out encompassing at least 100 million people by
year-end 2008. “We enter 2007, the year of our history-making WiMAX
service launch, as the broadband mobility leader,” remarked Barry West,
president, 4G Mobile Broadband. “Our next generation network plans have
catalyzed the industry, and momentum behind our mobility vision grows
with increasing technology adoption.”
Sprint Nextel last August announced WiMAX IEEE802.16e-2005 as its next
generation mobile technology platform and formed an infrastructure
development ecosystem with charter partners Intel Corporation, Samsung
and Motorola. They plan on using a chipset embedding strategy in new and
conventional devices to support rapid market adoption and pervasive
access of WiMAX mobility technology. As a result, Sprint Nextel
customers will experience a new mobile data network designed to offer
faster speeds, lower costs, greater convenience and enhanced multimedia
service quality. Indicative of the current momentum behind Sprint
Nextel’s Mobile WiMAX initiative:
- The Chicago and Washington D.C.
areas have been chosen as initial WiMAX service areas with additional
markets to be identified based on market-readiness estimates;
- Nokia, the world’s largest cell
phone manufacturer and leading network supplier, was named a key
infrastructure and consumer electronic device supplier;
Motorola announced a strategic initiative to develop mobile WiMAX
chipsets for use in Motorola's next-generation WiMAX devices;
- Samsung has committed to delivering
six WiMAX-capable devices (including Ultra mobile PCs and personal
media players); Samsung also plans to enter the WiMAX chipset
business;
Intel completed the design of a single-chip, multi-band WiMAX/WiFi
chipset that it will sample in card and module forms in late 2007;
- LG Electronics Inc. intends to
develop an infotainment device that would work on the Sprint Nextel
WiMAX network;
Sprint Nextel WiMAX Ecosystem partners
will preview future network mobility devices and 4G technology
applications over 2.3/2.5GHz spectrum during the 2007 International
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 8-11; while Sprint
TV service partner MobiTV demonstrates WiMAX mobile TV.
Sprint Nextel will work with WiMAX ecosystem partners and others to
incorporate WiMAX technology in a range of computing, portable multi-
media, interactive and other consumer electronic devices. The intent is
to wirelessly enable the multitude of stand-alone consumer electronic
devices that currently lack connectivity or Internet access, thereby
facilitating digital life amid a new era of user-generated content.
Sprint Nextel has the experience, network infrastructure, spectrum and
distribution channels to make 4G broadband mobility services pervasive
and indispensable for customers.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including
two robust wireless networks serving more than 51 million customers at
the end of third quarter 2006; industry-leading mobile data services;
instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an
award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information,
visit www.sprint.com.
Safe Harbor
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release
regarding the plans for the development and deployment of a 4G network
and the related infrastructure and portable data and consumer
electronics devices, including the expected capital expenditures related
to the development of the 4G network, expected capabilities and
contributions of initiative participants and collaborating members,
expected capabilities and performance of the 4G network and related
devices, including speeds, cost, convenience and quality, the expected
timing of service availability, planned coverage of the 4G network and
related devices, the expected development of mobile WiMAX-enabled
chipsets, the expected nature, features and number of portable
multi-media and other consumer electronic devices, the expected adoption
of mobile WiMAX by other carriers, and the planned strategic marketing
and product alliance to be formed by Sprint and other consumer
electronic companies. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "intend,"
and "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates and
projections reflecting management's judgment based on currently
available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
suggested by the forward-looking statements. With respect to these
forward-looking statements, management has made assumptions regarding,
among other things, the availability and performance of related
infrastructure, devices and its spectrum, as well as customer and
network usage, customer growth and retention, pricing, development,
deployment and operating costs, the timing of various events and the
economic environment.
Sprint Nextel believes these forward-looking statements are
reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and
speak only as of the date of this release. Sprint Nextel is not
obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking
statements to reflect events after the date of this release. Sprint
Nextel provides a detailed discussion of risk factors in periodic SEC
filings, including its annual report on Form 10-K for 2005, as amended,
and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2006.
You are encouraged to review these filings. |