LightSquared isn’t giving up its quest to build a nationwide LTE network despite the odds continuing to stack against it. On Wednesday, LightSquared accused the commercial GPS industry of “rigging” government tests on the potential GPS interference problems of its network and called on the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to hire an independent lab to conduct a new round of testing.
Last week, the government agency overseeing the national GPS satellite network, the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee, or PNT-ExComm, reached the damning conclusion that there is no network LightSquared could build without overwhelming the signals millions of GPS navigation and timing devices depend on. To break ground on its LTE network, LightSquared needs a final okay from the FCC, but its approval is conditional upon LightSquared proving that its high-powered LTE network doesn’t interfere with devices using the neighboring low-powered GPS band.
After a list of the test devices was released to LightSquared, the company found that the only mass market device that reportedly failed the government’s tests -- which were run by the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee (PNT EXCOM) -- actually “performed flawlessly during Technical Working Group” testing. The government also reportedly tested LightSquared’s network at a power level that is 32-times greater than the level at which it will actually operate.
LightSquared is relying on FCC approval to solidify a contract with Sprint to help build out the carrier’s 4G LTE network. Sprint most recently gave LightSquared an additional 30 days to gain FCC approval, but the government has said none of LightSquared’s proposed fixes will help it gain approval.
“Transparency is the only way taxpayers can be assured that the testing process is not manipulated to benefit one particular set of self interests,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
“LightSquared is confident that a fair process will allow the company to move forward with its plan to deliver wireless broadband to hundreds of millions of consumers.
Last week, the government agency overseeing the national GPS satellite network, the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee, or PNT-ExComm, reached the damning conclusion that there is no network LightSquared could build without overwhelming the signals millions of GPS navigation and timing devices depend on. To break ground on its LTE network, LightSquared needs a final okay from the FCC, but its approval is conditional upon LightSquared proving that its high-powered LTE network doesn’t interfere with devices using the neighboring low-powered GPS band.
After a list of the test devices was released to LightSquared, the company found that the only mass market device that reportedly failed the government’s tests -- which were run by the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee (PNT EXCOM) -- actually “performed flawlessly during Technical Working Group” testing. The government also reportedly tested LightSquared’s network at a power level that is 32-times greater than the level at which it will actually operate.
LightSquared is relying on FCC approval to solidify a contract with Sprint to help build out the carrier’s 4G LTE network. Sprint most recently gave LightSquared an additional 30 days to gain FCC approval, but the government has said none of LightSquared’s proposed fixes will help it gain approval.
“Transparency is the only way taxpayers can be assured that the testing process is not manipulated to benefit one particular set of self interests,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
“LightSquared is confident that a fair process will allow the company to move forward with its plan to deliver wireless broadband to hundreds of millions of consumers.
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