Sprint, VZW eye 4G for fixed broadband, too

WiMAX and long-term evolution may be the first true mobile broadband technologies, but they still can be used for fixed broadband access — at least that's how Sprint and Verizon Wireless see it. Sprint plans to use its ownership stake in Clearwire to break back into the home broadband business, offering not just WiMAX Internet services, but possibly VoIP and femtocell services as well.

“We want to make 4G a major initiative within the company,” said Todd Rowley, vice president of 4G for Sprint. “4G gives us the capabilities to actually start offering home services — voice and broadband services. We've seen a big trend of people cutting the cord at home. This allows us to make it a little easier.”

Verizon Wireless has plenty of DSL and fiber to the home, but its planned LTE network gives it another access alternative, said Dick Lynch, chief technology officer for Verizon Communications. “When we went after the 700 MHz spectrum, one of things I told my planners was, ‘Don't tell me about a replacement for EV-DO. Tell me about how we're going to be able to utilize LTE for both fixed wireless broadband as well as mobile broadband,’” Lynch said.

Though Lynch implied Verizon was mainly interested in LTE to hit hard-to-reach areas in its FiOS and DSL footprint, it's important to remember that Verizon doesn't have a nationwide wireline access footprint, but it does have a nationwide 700 MHz license (excluding Alaska). Just as Sprint sees WiMAX as an alternative to copper, Verizon may see LTE as a way to move into residential broadband out of territory.