Super-high-speed wireless coming to Chicago this week

Monday, November 02, 2009

WiMax, the next-generation wireless internet protocol that can provide home broadband speeds over mobile connections is set to go live in the Chicago area this week after a number of false starts.

The project is the result of a collaboration between Sprint and Clearwire, which merged their wireless broadband units last year after a complete merger failed the year before, according to the Chicago Tribune. Service will be available starting at $35 per month, which will include the USB dongle and device drivers required to connect to the WiMax network.

The Sprint/Clearwire partnership will also offer a home modem, which they say will offer an advantage of convenience over conventional wired devices. "[The consumers] don't have to wait for a technician to come install it and run cables all over the house," said Carlos Lopez, the president of a company that distributes Clearwire service.

Sprint and Clearwire's municipal WiMax networks - sometimes referred to as 4G - are also being rolled out this week in Dallas and parts of North Carolina, according to EWeek.