MVNO will launch its WiMax iPhone sleeve this year, but plans to phase out WiMax in favor of a fresh wholesale deal with Sprint as its 4G LTE footprint grows

Sarah Thomas, Director, Women in Comms

July 11, 2012

2 Min Read
FreedomPop to Phase Out Clearwire for Sprint LTE

Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) FreedomPop plans to launch its data-only service plans later this year on Clearwire LLC (Nasdaq: CLWR)'s WiMax network, but once Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S)'s Long Term Evolution (LTE) network is nationwide, the company will upgrade its 4G flavor.

FreedomPop VP of Marketing Tony Miller confirmed its plans to GigaOm Wednesday, noting that it has reached a deal with Sprint to resell its 3G and 4G data access.

Miller tells the site that the MVNO's Clearwire-powered WiMax modems and WiMax-powered iPhone sleeve will launch late this summer or in early fall in Clearwire's 71 markets, but FreedomPop will offer tri-mode WiMax, Sprint LTE and CDMA modems and sleeves by the end of the year. (See FreedomPop Might Offer Cheap 4G for iPod.)

Sprint is launching its first five LTE markets on Sunday. Its rollout will complete near the end of 2013, at which time FreedomPop says it will phase out Clearwire and rely solely on Sprint's LTE. (See Sprint Sets LTE Launch Date .)

Why this matters
The move makes sense for FreedomPop, which was originally partnered with LightSquared , as WiMax is becoming a dead-end technology. Even Clearwire is planning to roll out LTE, which the MVNO said it would explore as well.

But, the network swap is a coup for Sprint, which has been building its wholesale strategy. Signing up partners for its LTE network before it's even launched is good progress.

What's more, Sprint's making good on its promise to be flexible and easy to work with. FreedomPop's data-only plans rely on a freemium payment plan in which users receive an initial bucket of 500MB of data free and then have upsell options to tack on extra megabytes. Sprint is only charging FreedomPop for the gross data tonnage it uses, Miller tells GigaOm.

For more

  • Meet the New US Wireless Operators

  • FreedomPop Bets on 4G With Clearwire

  • FreedomPop Opts for Clearwire 4G Network

  • FreedomPop Will Use LightSquared's LTE

  • 4G Is Nearly Free With NetZero

— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile

About the Author(s)

Sarah Thomas

Director, Women in Comms

Sarah Thomas's love affair with communications began in 2003 when she bought her first cellphone, a pink RAZR, which she duly "bedazzled" with the help of superglue and her dad.

She joined the editorial staff at Light Reading in 2010 and has been covering mobile technologies ever since. Sarah got her start covering telecom in 2007 at Telephony, later Connected Planet, may it rest in peace. Her non-telecom work experience includes a brief foray into public relations at Fleishman-Hillard (her cussin' upset the clients) and a hodge-podge of internships, including spells at Ingram's (Kansas City's business magazine), American Spa magazine (where she was Chief Hot-Tub Correspondent), and the tweens' quiz bible, QuizFest, in NYC.

As Editorial Operations Director, a role she took on in January 2015, Sarah is responsible for the day-to-day management of the non-news content elements on Light Reading.

Sarah received her Bachelor's in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She lives in Chicago with her 3DTV, her iPad and a drawer full of smartphone cords.

Away from the world of telecom journalism, Sarah likes to dabble in monster truck racing, becoming part of Team Bigfoot in 2009.

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