Broadband Internet

Cable Internet Access is currently the fastest service in town other than some fiber optic networks that have very small service areas. This is great for home users, offering robust networks that an entire family can enjoy without bandwidth concerns. Cable Internet is one of the most widely used Internet serves in the US with availability in almost every market. The problem has been however the service stopped at the front door. There has been no reliable service cable providers could offer to its customers that would extend their Internet access wirelessly. It would appear Clearwire will change all that.

Clearwire, a Washington based wireless internet firm, has proposed a merger with Sprint's Xohm WiMAX unit. The new Clearwire network is being referred to as a 4G network (4th generation) in that voice, data, and streaming multimedia will all be accessible over it anytime and anywhere. This is a dramatic change from current cellular networks or wireless coffee shop hubs, and could perhaps offer relief to the latency plagued Satellite Internet customers one day.

Comcast is investing heavily in this new enterprise with the intention of throwing its hat in the wireless ring to offer new services to its large user base. The merger is contested, but Comcast and Sprint both claim the deal will be done by the end of the year. This is important to Comcast as this timetable will give the company the ability to offer a 4G network almost two years before the proposed Verizon 4G rollout. Two years could create a large user gap that will be difficult to fill.

Comcast isn't the only firm interested in Clearwire. Time Warner, Intel, and Google have all invested in this new 4G network creating a $14.55 billion company poised to change how wireless internet works. This new product offering is stated as being capable of 2MEG downloads from anywhere, making it very appealing if the price is right.

The investing companies intend to wholesale this new service under their own brand. For the cable companies this instantly extends their capability across all of their current markets. Comcast wants you as a customer when you are home or out and about, and this could make this possible incredibly fast.

The deal makes sense for the cable firms, but why is Intel involved? WiMAX wireless devices. Intel didn't invest over $100 million dollars in Clearwire because it had a catchy name. The sooner this 4G network is available, the sooner Intel can offer a completely new chipset for upcoming hand held devices.