Sprint Nextel has named Nokia as a key infrastructure and consumer electronic device provider for its WiMAX next generation mobility network.
Nokia therefore joins Intel, Samsung and Motorola as major creators of the advanced network infrastructure and access devices which must be designed to allow consumers, businesses and governments to experience high bandwidth mobile Internet connectivity at access speeds significantly higher than today's wireless networks beginning late 2007.Sprint Nextel, in turn a crucial element in the WiMAX equation, has already announced WiMAX (IEEE802.16e-2005) technology for a next-generation wireless network which could exploit Sprint Nextel's extensive 2.5GHz spectrum assets, and to form a business ecosystem which could spur on the global adoption of WiMAX devices and services. Target for the end of 2008 is 100 million people - whoever has been chosen by Sprint Nextel needs to work flat-out to achieve this target.
The strategic relationship with Nokia involves network infrastructure, mobile device and market development commitments. Nokia will thus: conduct co-marketing efforts to drive market development and support global adoption to help establish worldwide roaming; develop and market WiMAX-enabled mobile devices in significant volumes, including multimedia computers and Internet tablets; jointly develop mobility services and applications to improve the customer experience; and be a major supplier to Sprint for WiMAX network infrastructure, including Nokia's Flexi WiMAX base transceiver stations which are claimed to bring significant site and operating cost savings.
Sprint Nextel intends to invest up to US$800 million this year and between US$1.5 billion and US$2 billion next year relating to 4G.
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