With the release of Sprint’s 4G wireless network around North America, the race for 4G speeds has commenced, and the mobile data war has begun. Verizon and AT&T have both announced plans for larger and faster 4G networks over the next five to ten years, and even T-Mobile, which has de-prioritized data offers, has laid out its plans. However, the major cell phone carriers are not the only ones that you need to watch. A company called CLEAR is already in the 4G market–but does this company have the competitive edge needed to survive in this brutal market?

CLEAR has established 4G coverage in nearly as many areas as Sprint, meaning that in major cities across the country, you will be able to access its lightning fast speeds. This includes Houston and Austin, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Las Vegas, Nevada, and even some regions in Hawaii. But how fast is this 4G?

CLEAR 4G is comparable to Sprint’s 4G network, which means that it goes about four times the average speed of 3G (or about six to eight mbps, with a top download speed of about a megabyte per second). This is comparable to typical DSL, but it pales in comparison to the long term plans of the other major wireless networks. CLEAR has not stated a plan for upgrading its 4G speed in that time, but it’s easy to speculate that CLEAR will continue to improve its speed as the competition heats up.

The biggest advantage of CLEAR is that it’s offering packages at a significantly lower price than the other wireless networks. While Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon offer special deals at about $60 (US) per month, CLEAR has plans available at $30 (US) per month. The plans with the most competitive specs from CLEAR are available at about $40 (US) per month, meaning CLEAR’s price is currently its strongest weapon.