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Clearwire to target Life Unwired strategy with WiMAX
Wireless ISP anticipates a consistent experience both home and away
Clearwire's strategy message is straightforward - whether at home, in the car, using a computer or consumer electronics device, or a mobile handset - the experience should remain the same. The company believes its network is capable of delivering compelling services both home and away. Compared to traditional wireline cable and telecommunications providers, Clearwire sees advantages in mobile voice and narrowband data, multi-megabit mobile broadband, and mobile video. In contrast to 3G mobile operators, the company touts advantages in residential broadband and voice, along with multi-megabit mobile broadband.
Clearwire's service offering and equipment portfolio today is equally as simple. Residential customers have the choice of broadband internet access and VoIP, or a combination of both in most US markets. The provider claims presence in 50 global markets and a consolidated subscriber base of 394,000 customers worldwide. Executives have stated that the European operations have not been going as well as hoped. Merging or divesting those markets is seen as a consideration though no specifics, such as potential successors, are available. Late in 2007, the company launched a PC Card in the US markets. Future add-in card plans include an ExpressCard version of the proprietary network followed by USB and ExpressCard implementations for WiMAX.
In testing 802.16e-2005 for WiMAX, Clearwire has maintained its partnership with Motorola for both infrastructure and client devices. The relationship commenced a couple years back when Motorola and Intel put money into the then privately-held operator. NextNet, the equipment developer for Clearwire, was traded to Motorola as part of the transaction. The NextNet Expedience line became part of Motorola's operation and its legacy is carried forward in some of the new MOTO wi4 CPE mechanical designs, and undoubtedly in the non line-of-sight experience that the former company had gained. Clearwire is frequently referred to as a WiMAX network operator, however, no actual WiMAX products are currently part of its commercial services.
The sole trial of WiMAX by Clearwire is in the Portland, Oregon market. The alpha tests were conducted over a 12 square mile region of Hillsboro, which is heavily populated by Intel facilities. This coverage was expanded for the beta tests to encompass the neighboring communities of Aloha and Beaverton, west of Portland, for approximately 145 square miles. At launch, Clearwire expects to cover all of metropolitan Portland and extend into Washington State across the Columbia River into Vancouver USA and parts of Clark County.
An interesting observation by CTO John Saw is that backhaul of WiMAX networks is expected to require significant capacity beyond typically cellular/3G requirements. He expects 30-60 Mbps per site are necessary to meet the demands of all-IP networks, adding that 90% of Clearwire's current backhaul is accomplished using microwave point-to-point links. Compare that to 70% of the US cellular backhaul market being leased T1 copper lines.
Getting to critical mass with WiMAX is still a significant challenge. The company was not successful as agreeing with fellow operator Sprint on the framework for a nationwide WiMAX roll-out last year. The two companies have aligned on common network architecture, with common features, functionality, and performance expectations. Both companies will conduct interoperability testing with common vendors on their respective networks. Ultimately, a roaming agreement between the two will be hashed out for the betterment of US subscribers.
In addition, Clearwire has historically taken 12-18 months to launch Expedience into new markets. Twelve new markets were launched in 2007. The company plans to launch WiMAX products and services across Las Vegas, Portland Oregon, Atlanta, and Grand Rapids Michigan during 2008.
By Jeff Orr, ORR Technology
