Clearwire launches wireless broadband service in Jacksonville, Florida - New Networks/Upgrades
Clearwire Technologies announced the deployment of next-generation wireless broadband service in Jacksonville, Florida - the largest US commercial launch of its kind. Clearwire is using technology from wireless broadband pioneer IPWireless to offer the simplest and most convenient high-speed Internet access to businesses and residents of Jacksonville. Clearwire will fill a critical need in the market by providing powerful, reliable, and affordable wireless, high-speed Internet service to businesses and consumers in many areas of Jacksonville where DSL and cable service are not available. The magnitude of this major market launch demonstrates Clearwire s emergence as an innovator and leading provider of next-generation broadband services.
This announcement culminates a year of foundation building by Clearwire that included securing access to one of the largest 2.5 GHz spectrum positions in the country, implementing a world-class technical support organization and order management system, and completing extensive lab and field trials with a number of equipment vendors to determine the most efficient and cost-effective network infrastructure available for deployment. Clearwire selected IPWireless as its vendor of choice because its UMTS standards-based technology offers several key advantages, including a no-hassle installation, a non-line-of-sight connection, and a broadband modem that is small, attractive, and battery-powered, yet robust enough to run a local area network of multiple computers either in homes or offices.
Clearwires Jacksonville system will utilize FCC-licensed spectrum in the 2.5 GHz Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) band, which is licensed to nonprofit educational entities and institutions. Access to this spectrum has been provided under lease agreements with the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) and the Duval County public school system.