Softbank Corp. (TYO:9984) (PINK:SFTBF) is appealing to Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S) as the drama in the telecommunications industry continues. The company said even though DISH Network Corp (NASDAQ:DISH)’s buyout offer was higher than its own, its offer is actually superior because it has experience with TD-LTE.
A merger between Sprint Nextel and Softbank has been pending since late last year. The Japanese telecom company was set to buy 70 percent of Sprint Nextel. Then DISH Network stepped in and made a bid that’s higher than Softbank’s bid.
Since then, Softbank Corp. (TYO:9984) (PINK:SFTBF) has slammed DISH Network Corp (NASDAQ:DISH)’s bid for Sprint Nextel, calling it incomplete and illusory. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s CEO also spoke out in favor of Softbank’s offer over DISH Network’s.
Softbank’s Use Of TD-LTE
Today CNET’s Don Reisinger reported that Softbank Corp. (TYO:9984) (PINK:SFTBF) is trying to entice Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S) with its use of TD-LTE, which would be able to improve Sprint’s LTE capabilities in the U.S. Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son said that Sprint Nextel’s network would become more valuable and better through the use of TD-LTE.
TD-LTE offers greater flexibility over traditional technology, using a single spectrum black allowing carriers to choose how to use frequencies within it. The technology enables carriers to put smaller frequencies toward small tasks like sending emails and more to bigger tasks like downloading big files.
How Clearwire Fits In
Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S) has been trying to buy out Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR), and as Reisinger points out, Clearwire also uses TD-LTE technology. According to Son, combining Clearwire’s TD-LTE spectrum with Softbank’s knowledge and expertise on the technology would make Sprint Nextel much stronger than a merger with DISH Network Corp (NASDAQ:DISH) would.
