4G is coming to Seattle this year

Communications provider Sprint Nextel announced plans March 25 to expand the new 4G ("Fourth Generation") WIMAX broadband service in a number of key US markets, including Seattle.

4G is coming to Seattle this year

Communications provider Sprint Nextel announced plans March 25 to expand the new 4G (“Fourth Generation”) WIMAX broadband service in a number of key US markets, including Seattle.

The announcement appears to closely match Kirkland-based Clearwire’s 4G expansion strategy, a company which merged the Overland Park, Kan. telecom company ‘s WIMAX unit last year.

The 4G services are expected to go online in Seattle this year, as well as several other major US markets, including: Atlanta, Honolulu, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Portland and Fort Worth.

Called 4G, or “Fourth Generation” systems, will be able to provide a comprehensive voice, data and streamed multimedia Internet service and allow “mobility and simplicity” at much faster speeds than previous generations.