Clearwire has sold majority of its Irish WiMAX operations to Imagine Communications Group. The broadband and phone company Imagine is rolling out 4G WiMax across Ireland as an alternative access to the existing Eircom network.

Clearwire has a significant telecoms infrastructure in Ireland which will now be used by Imagine as it continues a EUR100 million national roll-out of the high speed wireless network WiMax.

Following the Clearwire transaction, Imagine now has nearly 400 high sites nationwide to facilitate the rapid roll out of the WiMax network.

"This is a very significant and strategic deal for us as Clearwire is one of the world's leading 4G operators," said Mr. Brian O'Donohoe, MD of Imagine Communications Group.

Imagine gained 50MHz of spectrum when purchasing Irish Broadband in 2008, added more spectrum in a Comreg process in 2009, and with Clearwire Ireland Limited's spectrum now has over 120MHz of crucial 3.4/3.6MHz spectrum.

As part of the transaction, Clearwire will become a minority shareholder and will nominate a representative to Imagine's board of directors. Other specific financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Imagine expects that the WiMax network will cover 90 per cent of Ireland within two years.