January 08, 2007
Nokia to Help Sprint Nextel Develop WiMAX 4G Network

By Niladri Sekhar Nath
TMCnet Contributing Editor

Sprint Nextel has selected Nokia (News - Alert) as infrastructure and consumer electronic device provider for its WiMAX 4G network.
 
Under the agreement, Nokia will provide Sprint (News - Alert) with WiMAX network infrastructure, including Flexi WiMAX base transceiver stations. Nokia will develop and market WiMAX-enabled mobile devices as well.
 
Together, Sprint Nextel and Nokia will develop mobility services and applications to improve the customer experience. Both the companies have plans to kick-start co-marketing efforts to drive market development and support global adoption with the goal of establishing worldwide roaming.
 
In signing onto this agreement with Sprint Nextel, Nokia joins Intel (News - Alert), Samsung and Motorola in developing network infrastructure and access devices facilitating high bandwidth mobile Internet connectivity.
 
“Nokia shares Sprint Nextel’s mobile broadband vision and is proud to join its industry-leading WiMAX ecosystem,” said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and CEO of Nokia, in a statement. “WiMAX is an ideal technology for open Internet models in all major global markets. With Sprint's leadership, the next generation network will offer innovative mobile broadband services, connecting people with content and technology in new and exciting ways.”
 
Barry West, president of Sprint Nextel’s 4G mobile broadband division, added: “Sprint Nextel is forming a world class ecosystem around mobile WiMAX technology to deliver unprecedented mobile broadband services to customers. A company of Nokia's global stature fortifies the foundation of Sprint's mobility vision and will help make Sprint's WiMAX multimedia services pervasive and indispensable for customers.”
 
Sprint Nextel offers various wireless and wireline communications services offering mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. The company has developed innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving more than 51 million customers at the end of third quarter 2006.
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Niladri Sekhar Nath is a contributing writer for TMCnet covering telecommunications, service providers and networking.