Motorola Doubles Down On WiMax

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Late word is that Motorola’s investment arm will put substantial money into WiMax chip maker Sequans Communications. The chips are used in the wireless network structure.

The investment is another sign that Motorola, Samsung, and Intel (which put $600 million into WiMax firm Clearwire) are pushing for national WiMax networks here and abroad. Sprint is in the process of spending $3 billion to build a US network for its 4G phone service.

WiMax could turn the broadband industry on its head. Intel is actively promoting the technology in places like India where there is no broadband infrastructure.

If WiMax lives up to its early successes in places like Korea, the technology could give companies like Comcast and Verizon fits in the US.

Douglas A. McIntyre can be reached at [email protected]. He does not own securities in companies that he writes about.