Due to the costs associated with expanding, Clearwire have reported first-quarter losses. The Kirkland, Washington based company posted a loss of $176.4 million, or $1.08 per share. At the same time last year they posted a loss of ‘just’ $92.6 million, or 64 cents per share.

Although losses almost doubled, Clearwire reported revenue rose 76 percent to $51.5 million from $29.3 million last year, and that they have added 48,000 net new subscribers during the quarter. Total Clearwire subscribers amount to 443,000.

Benjamin Wolff said in a statement, “We began 2008 with an impressive first quarter across all major metrics. Our revenues grew a noteworthy 76% over last year’s first quarter.

“This was the result of the solid subscriber growth, as well as our successful expansion of service offerings to include residential voice service in more markets and a PC Card. We remain focused on increasing shareholder value by leveraging our residential broadband services, coupled with our dedication to customer satisfaction.”

Last week Clearwire and Sprint Nextel announced plans to create a $14.55 billion communications company that hopes to offer wireless broadband services across the country.

In related news,

Sprint Nextel’s largest independent affiliate, iPCS, announced that three of its subsidiaries have filed a lawsuit against Sprint Nextel, claiming that the new deal between them and Clearwire breaches iPCS’s exclusive arrangement with the carrier.

iPCS is seeking declaratory judgment that Sprint Nextel’s arrangement with Clearwire would allow it to compete against iPCS and is therefore a breach of contract.

iPCS is demanding a permanent injunction keeping Spint Nextel from consummating its planned WiMAX transaction until the arrangements have been modified to comply with iPCS’ agreements with Sprint.

iPCS released a statement on the issue: “iPCS believes that Sprint Nextel’s recently announced WiMAX transaction is yet another attempt by Sprint Nextel to breach the exclusivity provisions of the iPCS affiliation agreements. iPCS intends to fully and aggressively protect and defend its exclusivity rights,”

Last week Sprint filed a request at the Court of Chancery in Delaware for a declaratory ruling that its proposed venture with Clearwire was not in violation of its agreements with iPCS. Sprint said that iPCS’ suit is “simply a response” to the carrier’s request filed in Delaware.