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GR WiFi

waazzuup

By waazzuup
in Grand Rapids

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waazzuup Crossroads

waazzuup

Posted
Posted

Remember the city's wireless internet project?

http://www.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/wireless

According to the city's last public update the city-wide wireless broadband network was nearly complete as of 6/16/09, but the project was on hold due to a lawsuit over a non-compete agreement by iPCS (a local Sprint reseller). The network is being built by Clearwire, which Sprint owns a 51% stake in.

Well, Sprint announced today their intent to acquire iPCS. The deal should close this quarter, and the iPCS lawsuit should effectively die immediately.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Sprint-Nexte....html/print?x=0

Seeing as though the network is basically already complete, hopefully once the acquisition actually happens (before the end of the year) the city-wide wimax won�t be too far behind.

This is great news for GR!

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  • 2 months later...
GRGridGirl Hamlet

GRGridGirl

Posted
Posted

Since the deal with Sprint acquiring iPCS has closed and the sale has been approved by the government, where is Clearwire with their WiMax 4G network launch for Grand Rapids?

"Sprint Nextel acquired iPCS for approximately $831 million, including the assumption of $405 million of net debt. Sprint Nextel acquired all of iPCS’s outstanding common shares for $24.00 per share in an all-cash transaction."

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GRGridGirl Hamlet

GRGridGirl

Posted
Posted

Since the deal with Sprint acquiring iPCS has closed and the sale has been approved by the government, where is Clearwire with their WiMax 4G network launch for Grand Rapids?

"Sprint Nextel acquired iPCS for approximately $831 million, including the assumption of $405 million of net debt. Sprint Nextel acquired all of iPCS’s outstanding common shares for $24.00 per share in an all-cash transaction."

So I call the City about Clearwire (Sprint) and GR says, "we're waiting for Sprint-iPCS deal approved by the govt. Once Sprint has the approvals, we (GR) expect Clearwire to start to deploy WiMax soon after. We haven't heard from Clearwire in a while." Okay, so I call Sprint corporate: "Yes, Sprint closed the iPCS deal, and Sprint received all necessary approvals from the govt in 2009."

Oh Clearwire, where are you???

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JoeSchmo Whistle-Stop

JoeSchmo

Posted
Posted

http://www.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/wireless

Update – 2/4/10

Clearwire’s progress had been prohibited due to litigation initiated by iPCS alleging that Sprint violated an agreement which

precluded Sprint, Nextel, and Clearwire from operating a competing wireless service in its territory. On October 19, 2009,

Sprint Nextel and iPCS, Inc. announced an agreement for Sprint to acquire iPCS. The deal was recently closed. Grand

Rapids expects to receive an updated Clearwire WiMAX build/launch timeline in the next few weeks.

We anticipate that this is very good news for Grand Rapids and the region. This deal frees up Clearwire to begin selling

high-speed, 4-G wireless Internet in the region. The Clearwire WiMAX high speed broadband network is nearly complete

with just a few towers and antennae yet to install. We expect that the company will soon return to Grand Rapids to

promptly finish up the network.

......

Market rates for Clearwire WiMax service in the area have not been announced. However, discounted service of $9.95 per

month will be provided to up to 5% of the City’s low-income households who qualify. Clearwire has also agreed to provide

free wifi hot zones throughout the City for visitors and occasional users.

.....

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suydam Hamlet

suydam

Posted
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For the casual user, I'm unclear how important WiMax will be.

4G cell networks (the ITU-R standard) can provide up to 1Gb/s throughput for stationary devices (your office laptop, for example) and 100Mb/s for moving objects (that iPad running Google maps you clipped to your fixie's handlebars... running the Verizon or Spring 4g mifi device)

Given the availability of those speeds, and the ubiquity of cell plans, will anyone even care when WiMax goes live?

Just wondering what you all think.

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crinzema Whistle-Stop

crinzema

Posted
Posted

For the casual user, I'm unclear how important WiMax will be.

4G cell networks (the ITU-R standard) can provide up to 1Gb/s throughput for stationary devices (your office laptop, for example) and 100Mb/s for moving objects (that iPad running Google maps you clipped to your fixie's handlebars... running the Verizon or Spring 4g mifi device)

Given the availability of those speeds, and the ubiquity of cell plans, will anyone even care when WiMax goes live?

Just wondering what you all think.

Most 4g networks going forth with be under the LTE standard in the United States.
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