|
DQC News Bureau
Clearwire Corporation, a high-speed wireless broadband services provider founded
by Craig McCaw, announced a series of transactions with Intel Capital, the
venture capital investment arm of Intel Corporation and Motorola and Motorola
Ventures to accelerate the development and deployment of portable and mobile Wi-Max
networks based on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard.
The transactions include Intel Capital's investment of $600 million as part
of a $900 million private financing round and Motorola's acquisition of
NextNet Wireless a subsidiary of Clearwire.subsidiary. NextNet is a provider of
OFDM-based non-line-of-sight (NLOS) wireless broadband infrastructure equipment.
Motorola Ventures is also participating in the financing round.
Following closing of the transactions, Motorola will supply wireless
broadband equipment for Clearwire's existing and future networks globally. To
hasten the proliferation of mobile Wi-Max in PC clients, Intel will work to
enable the inclusion of Wi-Max chipsets in next generation mobile computing
platforms. All three parties will contribute significant research and
development resources to evolve NextNet Wireless pre Wi-Max technologies.
“The size of this investment from Intel Capital underscores our commitment
of supporting wireless broadband using Wi-Max networks in the US. Our
collaboration with Clearwire and Motorola builds on the basis of previous Wi-Max
network deployment investments made by Intel Capital throughout the world to
bring the benefits of mobile high-speed and content-rich Internet access to
wireless broadband users,” said Arvind Sodhani, President, Intel Capital.
Elaborating more about the initiative Sean Maloney, Executive VP and GM –
Mobility Group, Intel said, “Wi-Fi has become an essential part of people's
lives and Wi-Max is the next step. It is rapidly moving from a technology
initiative to real deployments. As Intel plans the integration of mobile Wi-Max
into our Centrino Mobile Technology notebook platforms, it is incredibly
important to collaborate with the broadband wireless providers who will offer Wi-Max
services. This investment in Clearwire will lay the foundation for high-speed
mobile broadband services across North America.”
As part of the transaction, Motorola will acquire Clearwire's subsidiary
NextNet Wireless, one of the industry's leading fixed and portable NLOS
wireless broadband equipment suppliers, for an undisclosed amount. Page(s) 1
| 
