Sprint will have majority ownership in Clearwire, including its lucrative wireless spectrum.

Sprint-Nextel will gain majority control over its beleaguered wireless partner Clearwire with the $100 million acquisition of Craig McCaw’s stake in the wireless company he co-founded.

Sprint already controlled 48 percent of Clearwire, which provides many Sprint customers with 4G WiMAX service, but today’s purchase will give Sprint more control over Clearwire’s considerable wireless spectrum holdings.

Jeff Kagan, an independent telecommunications analyst this morning told Bloomberg News Sprint’s acquisition will make a Sprint-Clearwire combination more attractive to Softbank, which is buying a controlling interest in Sprint and wants firm ground in the U.S. market.

“It gives the combined company much more spectrum, much more ability to deliver services,” Kagan said.

But Sprint denied it was seeking a complete acquisition of Clearwire, which still has Intel and cable operator Comcast as part-owners.

Clearwire’s planned 4G TD-LTE network upgrade due to launch in 2013 is also a comfortable fit for Sprint’s new partner — Tokyo-based Softbank, which uses the same technology on its own 4G network in Japan. Softbank last week announced it would pay $20.1 billion for a controlling interest in Sprint-Nextel.

CNBC covers Sprint’s announced acquisition of a controlling interest in beleaguered Clearwire, and what impact the acquisition will likely have on Sprint shareholders. (3 minutes)

Other stories of interest:

1. Wall Street Hates Softbank’s Acquisition of Sprint; “Competitive Headache” for Wireless Duopoly
2. Sprint Allows Its Majority Stake in Clearwire to Slip Below 50 Percent
3. Sprint, Clearwire in Advanced Talks to Be Acquired By Japanese Cell Provider Softbank
4. Sprint: “50% Chance of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy,” Says Wall Street Analyst
5. Wall Street Wants Two Wireless Carriers for Americans: AT&T and Verizon