According to a Sprint executive, company is considering to launch nationwide LTE network.

According to a Sprint executive, company is considering to launch nationwide LTE network. It would push its Clearwire-run WiMax network to the sidelines, says Fierce Wireless. The network upgrade could go live this year, and be available across the country by as soon as 2013, if Sprint picks LTE.

Sprint will not make a decision regarding LTE deployment until mid-year according to teve Elfman, Sprint’s president of network operations and wholesale, reports Fierce Wireless.

In addition to LTE , Elfman gave details about Sprint’s $4 billion to $5 billion “network modernization” project that the company is planning over next three to five years. Sprint has plans to begin phasing out the iDEN network in 2013.

Webcast of Morgan Stanley conference is available here.