KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Clearwire and Sprint Nextel are planning to combine their wireless broadband units to create a $14.55 billion communications company.

The new company, to be named Clearwire, will receive a $3.2 billion investment from Intel Corp., Google Inc., Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc. and Brighthouse Networks.

Sprint Nextel Corp. will be majority owner, with a 51 percent equity stake.

Clearwire, which will concentrate on rolling out a mobile WiMAX network, will also receive an investment from John Stanton-led Trilogy Equity Partners.

The deal is expected to close during the fourth quarter.

-- The Associated Press