WiMAX operator Clearwire Corp. (CLWR) widened its fourth-quarter losses on higher expenses.
The company, owned mostly by mobile provider Sprint Nextel Corp. (S), lost $98.7 million in the three months ended Dec. 31, 2009. That was compared to a loss of $90.4 million in the year-earlier period.
Still, sales did increase. Revenue jumped 34 percent to $79.9 million as 87,000 subscribers – for a total of 688,000 – signed up for service. Retail customers totaled 642,000 while wholesale users, from Sprint, Time Warner Cable and Comcast Corp., numbered 46,000.
Full-year results also were a downer for Clearwire. The Washington-based company lost $325.6 million on $274.5 million in revenue.
Clearwire also reported higher operating expenses. Those rose to $201.1 million as Clearwire spent more on selling, general and administrative costs.
