Sprint Teaming with Walmart for WiMAX Coverage?

It was with amusement I ran across the rumor that Sprint is looking at putting WiMAX towers in Walmart stores to get the coverage that is so desperately needed for the roll-out. This makes so much sense that it would be one of the smartest business deals in recent memory. How smart would it be? Take a look at this statement I made way back in 2005 given news that Walmart was opening 300 stores:

I think the easiest way to roll out WiMax in the US is to put the transmitters in every WalMart store.   I have seen it published somewhere (I can’t remember where) that over 90% of the population of the US lives within 20 miles of a WalMart store.  Add these nearly 300 new stores and that number can only go up so think about it.  No matter where you move in the US you’d know you had broadband available and you wouldn’t even have to switch carriers.  Sign me up.

Now the rumor only deals with Sprint putting towers in Walmarts, but I believe they should carry it all the way and partner to become a 4G ISP. In one fell swoop Walmart / Sprint could become the #1 Internet Service Provider in the U.S.

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