X

Clearwire brings limited 4G to New York and Los Angeles

Clearwire announces that as it completes 4G expansion in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, 4G WiMax service is intermittently available.

Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Kent German

As it enters the final stages of its 4G expansion in New York City, Clearwire finally acknowledged today that its 4G WiMax service is already intermittently available in the Big Apple.

In a carefully worded statement, the company said it has started "operational readiness activities" not only in New York, but also Los Angeles and San Francisco. During the final construction phase, and as some New Yorkers have discovered, 4G service will be available in select areas.

Clearwire did not announce specific dates for when the cities would be fully covered, though it repeated its earlier promise that 4G would arrive by the end of the year. Occasional 4G service will also be available in Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Nashville, Denver, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh as final work in those markets is completed.

Though its 4G network currently covers 52 cities across the United States, large gaps exist in populous states like New York, California, and Florida. A such, the addition of the nation's two largest cities, and their millions of residents, is significant.

Sprint, Clearwire's carrier partner, has yet to release a companion statement, but owners of Sprint 4G devices like the HTC Evo 4G and the Samsung Epic 4G will benefit from the increased coverage.

To check 4G coverage with your address and zip code, use the tool on Clearwire's site. And let us know if you're getting 4G service in your area.