Feature Article

Free eNews Subscription>>
September 30, 2011

LightSquared Asserts the Need for Wireless Infrastructure Development in the Country

LightSquared, a provider of wholesale-only nationwide 4G-LTE network, announced its commitment to making wireless broadband accessible and affordable across America through the company's wholesale-only nationwide 4G-LTE network integrated with satellite coverage.

The announcement was made through an open letter from LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja published in all major dailies.

In his letter Ahuja highlighted that the country still has vast areas without access to broadband, or plagued by dropped calls and weak signals. Strengthening the country’s wireless infrastructure is of utmost importance as weak signals, dead-zones, and over-subscribed networks risk stalling American innovation and failing to meet consumer needs now and in the future.

“Within the next 24 months, demand for broadband wireless will outstrip the current total spectrum available in the United States – jeopardizing everything from the smartphones and tablets we love to the emergency responder services we rely upon to keep us safe,” Ahuja said in his letter.

In fact, a 2011 FCC report stated that more than a third of American households lack any form of broadband. The current nationwide wireless providers have failed to innovate and in the process have failed to keep pace with consumer and technological demands.

LightSquared is committed to invest $14 billion of private investment, without any government funding to improve America's infrastructure. The investment will bring 75,000 jobs over the next five years, competition, and innovation to the U.S. wireless industry, with affordable prices and better service for Americans everywhere.

LightSquared started the investment nearly a decade ago. The company received the license to operate the network in 2003 and again in 2005 with the full endorsement of the GPS industry. However, recently, concerns have been raised about interference with GPS devices.

“Despite the fact that the interference is caused by others' inappropriate use of LightSquared's licensed spectrum, we have been proactive in working toward a solution to the GPS issue. We are making a $150 million private investment in the solution for GPS,” Ahuja added. “We have moved our spectrum farther away from the core GPS frequencies and at the request of the FCC, we set up, funded, and ran the largest and most comprehensive testing program this country has ever seen.”

“With 99.5 percent of all commercial GPS interference accounted for and solved, LightSquared has now tackled solving the remaining 0.5 percent of GPS interference occurring on precision devices that also inappropriately violate our licensed spectrum,” the letter reads.

LightSquared asserts the need for additional wireless broadband is imminent. Regulators from both Democrat and Republican Administrations have conducted reviews of the LightSquared network and have reached the same conclusions.

Business and industry groups also realize the need to innovate in this space. In a letter sent this week to key members of Congress, half a dozen farming organizations — including the American Farm Bureau - urged lawmakers to communicate the benefits of both technologies to the FCC.

"The FCC must ensure that accurate GPS will continue to be available for precision agriculture and also ensure that broadband access be made available for all of rural America," the groups said.

LightSquared, launched in July 2010 by private-equity firm Harbinger Capital Partners, has the spectrum because Harbinger already owns satellite company SkyTerra. LightSquared was given clearance to use its allotted airwaves to provide wireless broadband services earlier this year.


Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for MobilityTechzone. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Carrie Schmelkin


FOLLOW MobilityTechzone

Subscribe to MobilityTechzone eNews

MobilityTechzone eNews delivers the latest news impacting technology in the Wireless industry each week. Sign up to receive FREE breaking news today!
FREE eNewsletter