Sprint-Clearwire: Hesse: Spectrum Combo Puts New WiMax JV Two Years Ahead Of Competition

Dan Hesse has only been CEO of Sprint (NYSE: S) Nextel for the last five months but he’s already solved — at least on the surface — one of the company’s most pressing problems — the future of WiMax. Hesse took the lead on this morning’s conference call to explain the $14.5 billion deal to analysts and investors:

– “This has been a complex puzzle to solve,” Hesse said. They wanted to leverage their position in the 2.5 MHz spectrum holdings, while continuing the momentum of WiMax, and maintaining the time-to-market over other competitors and technologies, and “realizing the natural synergies between its 4G and 3G” products, distribution and infrastructure. Stabilizing the company financially was also a goal. These things “lined up solidly with Clearwire,” and “quickly determined it was a natural fit.”

– “The new Clearwire (NSDQ: CLWR) will have an enviable 40 billion MHz pops position,” which is “the largest spectrum position owned by any one company.” That puts them at least two years ahead of the competition. More on the conference call after the jump…

– In addition to ownership stake, Sprint is also signing MVNO agreements with all of the cable operators that will “bring additional immediate benefits to Sprint.” In the new Clearwire, Sprint won