Dish Network’s bid to acquire wholesale network operator Clearwire is not “an illusory offer”, according to the company’s CEO.

The US satellite television company made a $3.30 per share bid for a stake in Clearwire, trumping an earlier bid of $2.97 per share made by US number-three mobile operator Sprint.

With some industry commentators questioning the bid, Charlie Ergen told an All Things Digital conference that Dish is serious about the acquisition.

With Dish looking to capitalise on the wireless spectrum it has built up, Ergen said building its own network “probably is outside of the grasp of reality”, meaning a better option is to work with an organisation already in the wireless business.

Ergen added that Dish’s offer for Clearwire is better for shareholders than the Sprint bid. “Sprint will have to do more to keep us out,” he said.

If the Clearwire deal fails along with other efforts to partner with a wireless company, Ergen said Dish would “admit we failed and try a new approach”. “We would hang a ‘for sale’ sign on the spectrum,” he added.

Clearwire is believed to still be considering the bid from Dish despite a deal with US number-three operator Sprint being favoured, the Financial Times reported.