Intel, Motorola Accelerate Development of WiMAX Networks

Clearwire Corporation, a high-speed wireless broadband services provider founded by Craig McCaw, announced a series of transactions with Intel Capital, the venture capital investment arm of Intel Corporation, Motorola and Motorola Ventures to accelerate the development and deployment of portable and mobile WiMAX networks based on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard.

The transactions include Intel Capital’s investment of $600 million as part of a $900 million private financing round and Motorola’s acquisition of Clearwire’s subsidiary NextNet Wireless, a leading provider of OFDM-based non-line-of-sight (NLOS) wireless broadband infrastructure equipment. Motorola Ventures is also participating in the financing round.

Following closing of the transactions, Motorola will supply wireless broadband equipment for Clearwire’s existing and future networks globally. To hasten the proliferation of mobile WiMAX in PC clients, Intel will work to enable the inclusion of WiMAX chipsets in next generation mobile computing platforms. All three parties will contribute significant research and development resources to evolve NextNet Wireless’ pre-WiMAX technologies.