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Clearwire

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Clearwire is a broadband Internet service provider (ISP) that uses a wireless signal in the 2.5 GHz range. It operates by placing its transmitters on mobile phone towers.

Services

Clearwire advertises speeds of up to 1.5 megabits (approximately 188 kilobytes) per second download transfer rate with 256 kbit/s upload rate. They also offer a lower grade option that advertises speeds of up to 512 kbit/s download and 128 kbit/s upload. Some markets have the lower grade option as 768 kbit/s download and 256 kbit/s upload instead. As with any ISP, the listed transfer rates are with ideal conditions; actual results vary greatly depending on factors such as service load.

An attempt to break the traditional broadband duopoly of cable television (e.g. Comcast, Cox) and phone companies (e.g. Verizon, the new AT&T, which provide access via DSL), Clearwire is an independently owned and operated company. Like the voice over IP (VoIP) Internet telephone company Vonage, Clearwire has run rigorous advertising campaigns in an attempt to promote its service. Promotions have included airline tickets and introductory rates as low as US$14.99 per month offered to new customers with contract agreement. Clearwire also offers its own VoIP service for as low as $29.99 per month.

In addition to the US, Clearwire also operate in Ireland.

Issues

Clearwire has been reported to be blocking or severely limiting several internet services such as Vonage, BitTorrent, Usenet, FTP, and peer-to-peer file sharing services. The users claim that although web speeds are not being hindered, the web (HTTP) is only part of the internet and that Clearwire fails to provide full service to its users.

Clearwire has thus been accused of deceptive advertising and not being up front to potential or current customers about its use of port blocking and packet shaping (traffic limitation). Clearwire places no such provisions in their contract or terms of service, with the exception of VoIP services such as Vonage, which are not allowed as Clearwire offers its own such service.

See also

References


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