Sprint Nextel is to keep its iDEN business after failing to find a buyer. “After careful review of the iDEN business, Sprint intends to retain and rejuvenate this important asset,” the company said in a statement yesterday. Sprint acquired the iDEN network in 2005 as part of its US$35 billion acquisition of Nextel, but reportedly struggled to integrate it with its other networks, leading to long-standing speculation that it may divest the unit. Earlier this month Sprint chief executive Dan Hesse said the company had received “significant interest” from potential buyers, but warned that a deal was unlikely to be made in the current financial climate. Analysts valued the business at the time at around US$5 billion.

In yesterday’s statement, Sprint said it would create early next year a nationwide unlimited calling plan with one monthly fee for its youth-focused Boost mobile service. Boost uses the iDEN network, which supports push-to-talk services as well as traditional mobile calls. Sprint also extended its technology supply agreement with Motorola, developer of the proprietary iDEN technology, and said it plans to introduce several new iDEN phones. According to Wireless Intelligence, Sprint had 14.4 million iDEN subscribers at the end of Q3 this year, 28 percent of its total customer base.