Sprint Nextel announced today (Wednesday) its joint venture with Clearwire and their plans to make a nationwide wireless network by collaborating with other top companies such as Google, Intel, Comcast and Time Warner.

The wireless network called WiMax would provide high-speed Internet connections for laptops and cell phones. WiMax will cover wide areas of the United States while providing the next generation of high-speed Internet access for cell phone users.

The companies involved have reportedly estimated the deal to worth up to $14.5 billion. The estimation was made taking in consideration a radio spectrum and equipment provided by Sprint Nextel and Clearwire as well as the infusion of $3.2 billion from the others companies.

The partners of the deal said they expect WiMax to be built in two years, but other detail such as the launching date and the prices for its customers weren’t determined yet. The consortium is seeking to beat Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless to the punch.

According to the deal, Sprint Nextel will own 51%of the new joint venture called Clearwire, while the old Clearwire will have 27%.

 “The power of the mobile Internet, which offers speed and mobility, home and away, on any device or screen, will fundamentally transform the communications landscape in our country. We believe that the new Clearwire will operate one of the fastest and most capable broadband wireless networks ever conceived, giving us the opportunity to return the U.S. to a leadership position in the global wireless industry,” said Craig O. McCaw, Clearwire’s chairman in a statement.

WiMax will reportedly provide its users with speeds of well above 5 Mbps, with peak rates of 8 to 15 Mbps.

The deals signed will allow Sprint to resell WiMax access, while the new Clearwire will be able to resell 3G service on Sprint's existing network. Cable operators will benefit by reselling Sprint voice, 3G, and WiMax, while Intel and Google have the option of reselling the service.