Also on the heels of the Sprint Clearwire WiMAX venture, cable TV provider Cablevision announced plans to offer high-speed wireless Internet services based on Wi-Fi.

During a conference call regarding the company’s first-quarter report, Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge reportedly said that just over half of subscribers in its coverage area subscribe to high-speed Internet service, giving the company the “critical mass” to begin offering wireless services. The new Wi-Fi network is expected to have speeds up to 1.5 megabits per second and is expected to be completed within the next two years.

The company estimates building the new network could cost upward of $100 a customer.