Clearwire Corp. said on Thursday it has signed deals to provide wireless
high-speed Internet access to customers of satellite TV providers
DirecTV Group Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp., sending shares up
as much as 24 percent.
The company, founded by wireless pioneer Craig McCaw, said the deals
allow the two largest U.S. satellite TV companies to offer high-speed
Internet, video and voice in all markets that Clearwire offers its service.
DirecTV and EchoStar will offer Clearwire's high-speed Internet service
to their customers while Clearwire in turn will be able to offer the
video services of one or both satellite companies to its customers.
The launch is planned for later this year, the high-speed wireless
service provider said.
DirecTV and EchoStar Satellite TV providers have been facing competitive
pressure from cable operators in the last two years as the cable
companies have won customers with attractively-priced packages of video,
phone and high speed Internet access.
Both DirecTV and EchoStar have separately said they would explore all
options available to them including Wi-Max technology such as Clearwire,
broadband access over power lines and broadband over satellite.
Last year both companies signed a distribution deal with WildBlue, a
satellite broadband provider, partly owned by Liberty Media Holding Corp..
Liberty Media is expected to close a deal to take a controlling stake in
DirecTV by the end of the year.
DirecTV said last month it would look at broadband access over power
lines. Liberty also has a stake in Current Group, a provider of such
services.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that DirecTV and EchoStar
are considering a bid to buy Intelsat, the world's largest commercial
satellite provider. This could also provide extra capacity to provide
more advanced digital TV and Internet access services.
Clearwire shares rose 20 percent, or $3.98, to $23.85 in Thursday's
midday trading, after touching its highest level since March. Shares in
DirecTV rose by 2.2 percent to $23.27 while shares in EchoStar were up
by 1 percent to $45.39 in early trade.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070614/wr_nm/clearwire_agreement_dc_2
[FYI... Liberty Media owns majority interest in DirecTV and WildBlue]
Regards,
Peter Radizeski
RAD-INFO, Inc. - NSP Strategist
We Help ISPs Connect & Communicate
813.963.5884
http://www.marketingIDEAguy.com
--
WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
