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Private Line covers what has occurred, is occurring, and will ocurr in telecommunications. Since communication technology constantly changes, you can expect new content posted regularly.

Consider this site an authoritative resource. Its moderators have successful careers in the telecommunications industry. Utilize the content and send comments. As a site about communicating, conversation is encouraged.

Writers

Thomas Farely

Tom has produced privateline.com since 1995. He is now a freelance technology writer who contributes regularly to the site.

His knowledge of telecommunications has served, most notably, the American Heritage Invention and Technology Magazine and The History Channel.
His interview on Alexander Graham Bell will air on the History Channel the end of 2006.

Ken Schmidt

Ken is a licensed attorney who has worked in the tower industry for seven years. He has managed the development of broadcast towers nationwide and developed and built cell towers.

He has been quoted in newspapers and magazines on issues regarding cell towers and has spoke at industry and non-industry conferences on cell tower related issues.

He is recognized as an expert on cell tower leases and due diligence processes for tower acquisitions.

« Sprint & Verizon Push 3G (UNSTRUNG.com) | | FCC's Wireless Service Auction Begins (Broadcasting Cable) »

August 09, 2006

Posted by Ken Schmidt & Mark van der Hoek at 10:45 AM

Sprint chooses WiMax

Sprint/Nextel is expected to announce that it will use the WiMax technology to upgrade its existing networks and for development of future services.

The Sprint/Nextel announcement will most likely bolster the efforts of Intel and Motorola, developers of the WiMax technology, and cause a setback for Qualcomm which is offering a competing technology. Many analysts consider WiMax the next step in wireless services, but wonder if consumers will buy-in to the technology. Wireless communication providers have greatly invested in 3G networks, which have not returned the results expected. Data transfer rates are lower than initially projected, which sheds doubt on the proclaimed success of WiMax.

Excitement continues to follow every kind of WiMax news though. Recently, the 4G technology has been the focus of media attention as a result of the FCC AWS auction scheduled to begin on Aug. 9. In addition to Sprint/Nextel's participation in the auction, the 2005 company merger granted a significant amount of the 2.5 GHz spectrum to the wireless provider, which will support its WiMax network.

The selection of WiMax (or 802.11e) over competing technologies was determined according to cost of services and network integration. WiMax compliments Sprint/Nextel's current 2.5 GHz network infrastructure and significantly lowers the cost of hosting multiple users on the network to transfer data. The WiMax technology costs 1/10 of its competitors and may bring data package rates down to less than $20 versus the $60 / month now available. Once the 4G network is in place, Sprint expects to offer customers download speeds 4 times greater than currently available.

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