Clearwire says it will launch its new LTE 4G network in 31 cities in the first half of next year, including Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Bellevue-based wireless broadband provider says the network, which it calls TDD-LTE, will serve high-demand 4G “hot zones” in its markets. Initial launches are set for early 2013 with the balance of the 31 markets by the middle of the year. More cities are promised, but not yet announced.

President Erik Prusch said in a statement, ” We’re positioned to bring much needed capacity on a wholesale basis to address the unbridled demand for mobile data and the scarcity of spectrum in major urban and suburban markets.”

The announcement comes as Clearwire has been planning a transition to overlay LTE on its existing WiMax 4G network. The initial phase includes 5,000 sites in the 31 markets.

At the same time, Clearwire reported its first quarter 2012 results. The company reported revenue of $322.6 million, up 36% from the first quarter of a year earlier, and an increase in subscribers to 11.0 million, up from 6.1 million a year earlier, broken down as 1.3 million retail and 9.7 million wholesale subscribers.

Net loss was $181.8 million, or 40 cents per basic share.

Previously: WiMax dealt another blow: new Sprint phones to be LTE-only

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