Mexican communications firm MVS Comunicaciones reportedly plans to launch WiMAX networks in 23 cities in a US$700 million project aided by major WiMAX backers Clearwire and Intel. Bloomberg notes that the partners aim to launch the network in the second half of 2010, although deployment is dependent on the Mexican government renewing MVS’ spectrum licenses in the 2.5GHz band.

MVS currently provides radio, television, publishing and broadband services and is also the majority partner in Dish Mexico, a satellite TV venture with EchoStar. A Dow Jones Newswires report notes how a major WiMAX network from MVS would be a direct challenge to fixed-line incumbent Telefonos de Mexico SAB (the country’s biggest Internet service provider with 6.4 million broadband accounts) as well as Telcel, the country’s largest mobile operator. Meanwhile the addition of a large-scale WiMAX network in the country would be a boost to the technology’s global aspirations. Although Clearwire remains bullish on its US plans following new investment, WiMAX has been overshadowed by LTE in the battle to become the technology of choice for next-generation mobile communications.