T-Mobile may team with Harbinger for LTE network next year
updated 03:15 pm EDT, Wed May 5, 2010
Harbinger may provide LTE network to T-Mobile
US wireless provider T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom, may form a partnership with a New York hedge fund, Harbinger Capital Partners, to roll out 4G service. The financial firm is known to be planning launching an LTE network, as it owns radio spectrum, but unnamed sources for FT indicate it wants to talk to the carrier about cooperating on the build out. The talks are said to be early and with no decisions having been made.
Harbinger's plan as it exists today wouldn't offer services directly to customers, but instead would involve cutting wholesale deals with carriers, including new ones, to help establish their networks.
Neither of the companies has commented on the authenticity of the rumor.
T-Mobile has publicly committed to rolling out 4G in 2011 but faces a significant uphill battle compared to AT&T and Verizon, both of which also plan to deploy LTE but have had the advantage of more experience with 3G and larger clout in the US. [via Financial Times]
