Clearwire

Clearwire's business model was centered on building and operating a next-generation wireless network to deliver high-speed internet access. The company served residential consumers and small businesses, as well as wholesale customers, primarily Sprint, which used Clearwire's network to provide 4G services. Its revenue was generated from monthly subscription fees for its internet service and wholesale agreements. A pivotal moment came in 2008 when Clearwire merged its 4G WiMAX business with Sprint's Xohm unit and secured a massive $3.2 billion investment from a consortium including Sprint, Google, Intel, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable. This transaction made Sprint the majority shareholder and aimed to create the first nationwide 4G mobile broadband network.

The company's core service was mobile broadband, initially using pre-WiMAX technology and later becoming a prominent champion of the WiMAX (802.16e) 4G standard. This provided a first-mover advantage, delivering internet speeds significantly faster than the 3G networks of the time. Clearwire's key strategic asset was its vast portfolio of 2.5 GHz spectrum, which offered substantial network capacity. The service, branded as CLEAR, provided portable internet via modems and PC cards, allowing users to connect anywhere within the coverage area. By January 2012, the company served approximately 11 million subscribers. Facing a market shift towards LTE technology, Clearwire later announced plans to add LTE to its network to remain competitive. Ultimately, after a bidding war with DISH Network, Sprint acquired full ownership of Clearwire in July 2013. Sprint then began integrating Clearwire's valuable spectrum into its own LTE network and officially shut down the WiMAX service on November 6, 2015.