The WSJ is reporting on a potentially massive investment in Sprint and Clearwire’s WiMAX networks by both the cable companies Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks and Google, which would see potentially in excess of $2bn to create a unified network.  Each participant could then buy wholesale access, giving the cable companies a new wireless arm to their coverage and open up possibilities of high speed internet, VoIP and mobile TV.  This would fit well into Sprint and Clearwire’s initial suggestion of WiMAX as a broadband replacement that can be used anywhere.

According to their sources, the WSJ suggests that Comcast would put forward the bulk of the investment, $1bn, Time Warner $500m, while Bright House would add between $100m and $200m.  Google’s investment is less clear, with the paper estimating it at “hundreds of millions of dollars”.  This would be added to Intel existing investment in the joint venture (JV), which is believed to be around $1bn.

Sprint and Clearwire have been negotiating a JV for some time now, and were believed to be seeking $3bn in investment to unify their networks.  Apparently Sprint CEO Dan Hesse is hoping for an agreement between all parties by CTIA, which begins on April 1st.

[via mocoNews]