Sprint head Dan Hesse has indicated that the Telco may launch LTE technology in addition to its WiMax operation.

The outfit is a big fan of WiMax but seems to be admitting that LTE will be the stronger technology in the long run. A move to LTE would make a merger with T-Mobile USA feasible, as the Deutsche Telekom unit is likely to adopt the same technology. One of the reasons Sprint Nextel rejected an offer from Deutsche Telekom to merge with T-Mobile USA in 2008 was because both use different 3G wireless technologies.

Currently Sprint runs its WiMax operations through Clearwire, in which it is the largest shareholder. It is building a 4G infrastructure that will cover nearly 120 million people by the end of 2010, including New York and San Francisco.