Nokia to Roll Out Sprint 4G WiMAX Network

Nokia said Wednesday that it had been selected by Sprint to begin building out its fourth-generation wireless network based on WiMAX technology. Four Texas markets, including Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin will be first to receive service in early 2008.

Sprint plans to cover about 100 million people across the nation with its WiMAX network by the end of next year, according to the company. Nokia would be in charge of deploying the necessary infrastructure in the initial markets. No announcement was made as to whether Nokia will be involved in other locations.

Mobile devices that are WiMAX-compatible are expected to be available around the time the network launches, Nokia said. These would include multimedia computers and Internet tablets with the technology built-in.

"Nokia's expertise in delivering end-to-end wireless technology solutions, coupled with Nokia devices that enable enhanced multimedia content, will enable Sprint Nextel to provide our customers with reliable, high-quality WiMAX service," Sprint's 4G head Barry West said.

The company shocked many last August when it announced WiMAX would be its "4G" technology of choice. Although Nokia was not mentioned at the time, Sprint said it was working with Intel, Motorola, and Samsung to deploy the network.

Sprint already holds extensive spectrum in the 2.5GHz range, where the wireless technology is intended to operate. It would also be a much cheaper route to faster wireless broadband, as it no-longer would be beholden to Qualcomm's expensive CDMA technology.

However, the company still plans to use CDMA as a backbone for its voice services, and says it will continue investing in the 3G portion of its network -- which is based on EVDO -- well into the future.