SYDNEY (WiMAX Day). The Australian TV broadcaster Seven Networks announced that it has acquired 10 percent of WiMAX operator Unwired Australia for AUD10 million. Seven also has a substantial interest in the Australian broadband telephony operator Engin. It’s CEO Neil Gamble told the <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em> yesterday “we believe that WiMAX has a huge future.”

Gamble noted that a future merger between Unwired and Engin might be possible. “A combination of Unwired’s wireless access services with Engin’s broadband telephony and TiVo offering would deliver a compelling consumer proposition,” Gamble told reporters.

In a prepared statement, Unwired CEO David Spence said, “We welcome any investment in the company by sophisticated investors…. I can certainly see the rationale for why Seven would be doing this and we welcome having another big company involved with Unwired.”

Analysts commented that the interest of Seven in Unwired is to find alternative distribution channels for its digital channels, and to compete with pay-TV.