A Clearwire Timeline

DECEMBER 05, 2008

It has been a long and winding road for wireless broadband operator Clearwire LLC to try to become the first nationwide mobile WiMax provider in the U.S., and Unstrung has been there along the way.

So join us now for a jaunt into WiMax (and pre-WiMax) history with a timeline that shows how Clearwire got to here from there.

• September 2002: First mention in Unstrung of then-local Texas operator Clearwire Technologies Inc. potentially using wireless broadband to provide service. (see IPWireless Flies the TDD Flag)
• March 2004: Wireless pioneer Craig McCaw’s Flux holding company buys Clearwire Holdings.
• June 2004: Clearwire Corp. is launched. (see McCaw Launches Clearwire and McCaw Clears the Wires)
• July 2004: In a foreshadowing of things to come, Nextel Partners COO Perry Satterlee takes the same position at Clearwire. (see Nextel COO Joins Clearwire)
• August 2004: Clearwire debuts its fixed wireless broadband, in Jacksonville, Fla. (see Clearwire Launches Service)
• October 2004: Intel Corp. partners with Clearwire to develop WiMax while Intel Capital stumps up its first undisclosed investment. (see Intel, Clearwire Do WiMax)
• March 2005: Clearwire hits Canada. (see Bell Canada, Clearwire Form Alliance)
• June 2005: Clearwire buys spectrum (see Clearwire Buys Spectrum)
• August 2005: Clearwire takes its first steps into Europe as it raises $260 million in a debt offering. (see Clearwire Goes European and McCaw's Mystery Millions)
• May 2006: Clearwire files for a $400 million IPO.
• July 2006: The operator takes on $900 million in new funding from Intel and sells its NextNet subsidiary to Motorola Inc. (see Clearwire Nabs $900M, Nixes IPO)
• December 2006: Clearwire plots another try at an IPO. (see Clearwire Takes Another Cut at IPO)
• February 2007: AT&T Inc. sells 2.5 GHz spectrum to Clearwire for $300 million.
• March 2007: Clearwire floats for $600 million. (see Clearwire's Cash Craving)
• July 2007: Sprint and Clearwire partner on WiMax deployment. (see Clearwire & Sprint Team on WiMax)
• November 2007: The operators terminate their partnership as Sprint’s CEO leaves. (see Sprint Reconsiders WiMax Plans)
• December 2007: Rumors emerge about a new Clearwire-Sprint deal. (see Sprint-Clearwire: On Again in 2008?)
• March 2008: Rampant speculation on a new deal continues through the early months of 2008. (see Clearwire Q4 Drops, WiMax News Doesn't)
• May 7, 2008: Clearwire announces a WiMax asset merger with Sprint and a $3.2 billion funding influx from Intel, Comcast Corp., Google, Time Warner Cable Inc. and Bright House Networks . (see Sprint, Clearwire Form WiMax Giant)
• May 13, 2008: Clearwire says it will expand WiMax service to Atlanta and Las Vegas. (see CLWR: Where It's at With WiMax)
• June 2008: The company says it is looking for European partners. (see Clearwire in Euro Partner Talks)
• July 2008: Clearwire reveals that it will deploy a WiMax overlay for its pre-WiMax network. AT&T tries to block the deal. (see Clearwire’s WiMax Overlay and AT&T Looks to Block Sprint/Clearwire Merger)
• August 2008: Plans solidify for service in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 2009. (see MI, MI, CLWR)
• November 4, 2008: FCC approves Sprint-Clearwire asset merger. (see FCC Approves Sprint-Clearwire Deal)
• November 20, 2008: Clearwire shareholders approve asset merger. (see I Can See Clearwire Now)
• November 28, 2008: Clearwire completes Sprint asset merger and gets $3.2 billion in funding. (see Clearwire, Sprint Complete Merger)
• December 1, 2008: Unveils new “Clear” branding, and says it could also use LTE proto-4G technology along with WiMax. (see Clearwire: We Could Use LTE)
• Q1 2009: Mobile WiMax expected to be launched in Portland, Ore.

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung

Unstrung - A Clearwire Timeline

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