Sprint and WalMart Teaming Up For WiMax Tower Network?

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Sprint has tapped an unlikely partner to help build out its next generation WiMax network.  Rumors suggest that Sprint and Walmart are working on a deal that would put a Sprint-sourced WiMax tower on the roof of every Walmart retail store in the United States.

At first glance, such a deal with Walmart would be a boon for Sprint.  With Walmart’s over-saturated coverage of the United States, this one deal alone would give Sprint jurisdiction to build WiMax towers that would instantly cover the majority of their service network.  Sprint would be able to take advantage of Walmart’s private property and thus circumvent zoning laws and the city-by-city permits needed to build new towers throughout the U.S.  Just one deal, and much of the red tape and paperwork would be handled– and Sprint would take advantage of clusters of Walmart stores that overlap in 30-50 mile ranges that would provide full coverage.

What is not clear, however, is how Walmart would benefit.  Will Walmart simply name a price, or will they reach further and look to co-brand the WiMax network under their own banner as well?  Could this tower deal lead to an even creepier result– the entrance of Walmart into the mobile communications market as a provider?  More to come– for now, these rumors have yet to be confirmed.