softbank

If Japan's SoftBank wins control of Sprint Nextel, it has pledged to remove network gear from Huawei that Clearwire uses in its network, a step that, according to a  Wall Street Journal  article, could cost up to $1 billion. The report, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, said the U.S. government wants Sprint to remove Chinese gear from Clearwire's network.

Sprint Nextel boosted its offer price to acquire the approximately 50 percent of Clearwire it does not already own from $2.97 per share to $3.40, caving to the demands of minority Clearwire shareholders and blocking Dish Network's unsolicited $3.30 per share offer for Clearwire.

Dish Network has lined up the financing it needs to make its $25.5 billion bid for Sprint Nextel, according to multiple reports, which could ratchet up pressure on both Sprint and SoftBank, which is seeking to acquire 70 parent of Sprint for $20.1 billion.

Two leading shareholder advisory firms offered contrasting views on whether Clearwire shareholders should approve Sprint Nextel's $2.97 per share offer, worth around $2.2 billion, to take control of the rest of Clearwire it does not already own. Shareholders are set to vote on the deal May 21.