According to Reuters, Sprint Nextel is not ready to partner with cable operators on a joint venture (JV) to rollout WiMAX services, but the third-largest mobile operator still plans to proceed with the deployment of its own next-generation, high-speed wireless network.

Last week, Reuters reported that Sprint and Clearwire were in discussions to use their WiMAX assets in a JV funded by Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Intel and Google (story here), but Sprint CEO Dan Hesse made no mention of the JV during a keynote address at the CTIA Wireless 2008 tradeshow in Las Vegas this week.

Sprint has said that it will spend $5 billion on WiMAX deployments by 2010, and the telco is currently in talks with Clearwire on roaming agreements between the two companies’ WiMAX services. Reuters reported that both Sprint and Clearwire are actively seeking funding for their WiMAX services.

A Sprint spokeswoman told Reuters that Sprint still plans on launching its Xohm WiMAX service later this year.

Sprint unveiled its own iPhone-like, touch-screen mobile device – the Samsung Instinct – at the CTIA show earlier this week (story here).

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