Based on reports from Unstrung, Clearwire (CLWR) which is working with Sprint Nextel (S) to build a high-speed Internet network, challenging services provided by cable and phone providers – will not use Google’s dark fiber.
The recent $500 million investment by Google (GOOG) into a “new” Clearwire venture threw up the intriguing prospect that the operator might be able to use Google’s dark fiber resources to reduce the cost of connecting its cell sites back to the wired Internet.
Google however, said on Monday that such a move isn’t in the cards.
“At this time Google’s involvement in Clearwire is limited to the terms of its investment and does not include providing network infrastructure,” says company spokesman Andrew Pederson.
Google will act as the default search engine for devices on the Clearwire network and develop mobile applications around the service as well as investing $500 million in the venture.
Clearwire is focusing on building out more of its microwave backhaul network to support the multi-megabits WiMax base station transmission speeds. The operator already claims to have the largest wireless backhaul network in the U.S.
The Kirkland, Wash.-based company says that it will be able to build out a complete network covering up to 140 million Americans for around $5 billion using the wireless links.
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