Time Warner Ramps Up WiMax Investment

Time Warner Cable Inc. plans to deploy more WiMax products in 2010, executives told analysts in its fourth quarter earnings call. "This will develop in exciting ways that we really can't quite imagine today. I think there's going to be a whole array of products using these types of networks in the future," TWC CEO Glenn Britt said. "I don't think any of us can fully imagine what the products are going to be. But it's an exciting opportunity."

Road Runner Mobile is already being marketed in Dallas, Hawaii and parts of North Carolina. But Britt says this is just the beginning of many products the company envisions arising from its hybrid wireline/wireless network.

"I think the networks of the future are hybrid networks where similar products are going to be offered to a whole variety of devices," Britt said. "I think what we're doing with Clearwire is just the beginning."

Although Time Warner is working with Clearwire and Sprint Nextel on a 4G wireless voice product, Britt was reluctant to suggest the MSO is planning to market WiMax voice services.

"[It does not] appear we really need that in our product portfolio. But we have the capability if we actually need it."