Photos: Sprint CEO bets big on WiMax

Gary Forsee, CEO of Sprint Nextel and Ed Zander, CEO of Motorola, fielded questions from analysts and journalists at a press briefing on Tuesday in New York. Sprint announced plans to spend $3 billion over the next two years to build a fourth-generation wireless network using WiMax technology. The wireless operator is partnering with Intel, Motorola and Samsung Electronics to build the network and develop devices that will access the network.

Forsee said that the jump to 4G is not a replacement for Sprint's third-generation network, but will help the company develop a new market for advanced wireless services.

From left to right: Sean Maloney, executive vice president at Intel; KiTae Lee, president of Samsung Electronics' Telecommunication Network Business; Gary Forsee, CEO of Sprint Nextel; Ed Zander, CEO of Motorola; and Barry West, CTO of 4G Mobile Broadband for Sprint Nextel.

Samsung and Motorola will supply infrastructure equipment to build Sprint's new 4G network. They'll also develop devices, including cell phones and consumer electronics products such as video or music players, that will be used to access the network. Intel will provide technology for laptops and other computing devices.