FreedomPop Teams up with Clearwire for 4G Mobile Broadband Network to Launch Disruptive Free Mobile Broadband Service

FreedomPop, a wireless broadband company backed by Niklas Zennstrom, has recently inked new strategic wholesale agreement with Clearwire Corporation, that will support FreedomPop's innovative and disruptive 4G mobile broadband service in the U.S.

According to the sources, FreedomPop has chosen to pay wholesale rates to Clearwire for accessing 4G network but specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

"FreedomPop's ultimate goal of providing our customers with a free mobile broadband alternative will soon be realized thanks to Clearwire's proven 4G network services," said Tony Miller, FreedomPop's VP of Marketing.

Miller said this agreement enables FreedomPop to offer a disruptive retail service, providing free, flexible, high-speed internet access to millions of Americans.

Clearwire has been offering its fast, reliable 4G mobile broadband network to more than 130 million people in the U.S. As Clearwire's planned 4G LTE Advanced-ready network comes online, FreedomPop expects to be able to offer users even faster speeds.

"Enabling innovative 4G business models with our mobile broadband network is a key part of Clearwire's wholesale business strategy," said Don Stroberg, Clearwire's Senior Vice President of Wholesale. "FreedomPop represents the kind of disruptive service model that will shake up the exploding wireless broadband market."

Clearwire is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash and serves retail customers through its own CLEAR brand as well as through wholesale relationships with some of the leading companies in the retail, technology, and telecommunications industries. Strategic investors include Intel Capital, Comcast, Sprint, Google, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks.

The company has introduced its next-generation 4G LTE Advanced-ready network to address the capacity needs of the market, working closely with the Global TDD-LTE Initiative and China Mobile.

In related news, Clearwire estimates it will spend $600 million to build its new Long Term Evolution network, spending about a half to two thirds of that amount in 2012, and the balance in 2013. What that might mean is that 5,000 LTE cell sites will be active by June of 2013, with a total of 8,000 sites shortly thereafter.