CW has several potential deals and revision of deals that are possible given the 'Have it Your Way' network and World Radio device plans:
1. Sprint can be expected to offer longer term assurances. Even if this is limited to a shallow reiteration of the current agreement, it can benefit Clearwire investors by back-stopping the worst case scenarios.
2. Sprint could expand upon their current agreement to offer Clearwire the relatively small amount of additional capital needed to fund TD-LTE as an overlay of existing base station deployments. ~500 million plus the vendor financing would carry them forward thru a first phase.
3. Sprint plus the cable companies could come together with from a modest 1st phase build out of a 'quadruple play' hybrid fiber-cable-4G network. The range of possibilities for funding and deployments are too much to mention here.
4. DISH Networks and Clearwire could do a deal or this could involve Sprint as the lead. DISH has some 700MHz as well as MMS spectrum that can compliment Clearwire and Sprint. They also have a subscriber base, significantly rural, and satellites that compliment more than compete. In some ways this would result in a mongrel dog of a competitor.. but who doesn't love feisty mongrels? (seehttp://goo.gl/Hz8vS )
5. Leap Wireless (LEAP), Metro PCS (PCS), are potential partners. These bandwidth strapped operators are under pressure to line up access to meet growing demands and to keep their service competitive. PCS, for example, has deployed LTE (Ericsson) and now could fit Clearwire's when common devices become available. The first TD-LTE devices (Huawei) have appeared... metroPCS sells Huawei dongles, and phones... so, '"Have it Your Way" to provide a device that will work on both networks isn't a huge stretch.
6. The development of an open add-on subscription network. If Clearwire otherwise gets funding, 2-3 years down the road the market may develop where handsets, pads are available that will work on other LTE, HSPA and EVDO networks for which Clearwire simply offers subscribers a data package. While that has negatives, it remains an option.
7. Remote possibility that Google, Microsoft, a White Spaces Alliance could recognize the faults of W.S. to team with 'the opposite end of the mobile spectrum' to partner with Clearwire on a common solution. Give it a 5% chance.
8. AT&T or Verizon acquiring Clearwire LOL! No way in hellx.
9. AT&T or Verizon doing an access agreement with Clearwire? As part of a broad agreement that satisfies the FCC and DOJ... ie. it assures the smaller operates get wholesale access at the same rates and coverage advantages, yea, its possible imo. Otherwise, AT&T and Verizon are not going to acquire or do exclusive deals for access that place the field at a disadvantage.
10. The who knows what else deals. Demand is up. Clearwire wants to serve all fairly... do it their way...
Clearwire is entering into play. They still are the little mouse but they are taking steps to climb up on the back of the elephant(s). |
