But even sweeter for Verizon is that Comcast, TWC and Brighthouse will also stop reselling Clearwire's 4G services in mid-2012, presumably to ride on the larger carrier's LTE network. Despite all the competitive issues between Verizon and the cablecos, they have mutual interests too, and there are extensive cross-marketing arrangements in their new deal. These will weaken the cornerstone of Sprint's strategy to survive as a major third player - its wholesale business, in which it has traded on the fact it did not have the same conflicts of interest with cable as Verizon or AT&T, with their extensive wireline broadband and TV interests
Verizon's crafty deal was the news of the week for the US wireless market. If Verizon truly moves to supplying wholesale service at competitive rates they will further carve out the market into the highest and lowest segments, owning the high end and collapsing mid-tier players and offers.
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