RSSSatellite TV Companies Sign Net Deal
by BetaNews Staff
Clearwire said Thursday that it had penned deals with both DirecTV and EchoStar, the parent of DISH Network, to allow them to offer the company's high-speed internet services as part of their packages in any current or future market Clearwire serves. The company uses WiMAX-like technology to provide wireless access to towns in 11 states, with towns in three others to be added shortly.
Through the deal, each of the satellite providers can offer Clearwire's service to its customers, while Clearwire can bundle DISH or DirecTV service with its own plans. Plans on both sides will be offered later this year. The company is also rumored to be in discussions with Sprint over its WiMAX offering, to launch later this year and nationwide in 2008.
2 Comments
Whats the point of this?
Dish and Direct TV's main customer base is in rural areas that are not served by Clearwire.
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I agree with this.. WHEN oh WHEN will satellite STEP it up and.. actually bring in an AFFORDDABLE option for high speed for us in the rural areas anyway? I am THREE miles, to the east and west, of DSL supported areas.. well maybe FIVE.. so I am definitely "out of range", but the "satellite alternative" is definitely NOT price competitive, even the start up cost of about 600 bucks, you do have to cough that up THEN you get rebates... THEN a whopping 60 bucks a month for LESS speed than you could get with DSL for 4X the price, plus as I understand it the latency issues with satellite make it non-viable in terms of on-line multiplay, which I'd be using for my Xbox 360 (at least until I upgrade the POS PC in a month or three).
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