More on LightSquared
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, January 20, 2012 · 
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To review what has taken place over the past week or so: the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee announced on Friday January 13 that, “Based upon this testing analysis, there appear to be no practical solutions or mitigations that would permit the LightSquared broadband service, as proposed, to operate in the next few months or years without significantly interfering with GPS. As a result, no additional testing is warranted at this time.” The announcement was released after follow-up testing of general location and navigation devices and cellular GPS had taken place. Read more
Verizon to Acquire Large Chunk of AWS Spectrum via Cable Companies
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 5, 2011 · ·
Verizon Wireless announced last Friday that it has agreed to pay $3.6 billion to a consortium of cable providers for 122 advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum licenses covering approximately 259 million people, or more than 85% of the U.S. population.
As part of the purchase agreement with SpectrumCo LLC — a joint venture controlled by Comcast Corp. which includes Time Warner Cable, Inc. and Bright House Networks -– the cable companies will be able to re-sell Verizon Wireless services on a wholesale basis, adding wireless to their service bundles. For its part, Verizon Wireless also will be able to sell the cable companies’ services. It’s unclear at this time if Verizon will choose to market the cable companies’ wired services in areas where is also is the incumbent telco.
Additionally, the cable companies and Verizon Wireless said that they “have formed an innovation technology joint venture for the development of technology to better integrate wireline and wireless products and services.” Read more
Dish Settles Sprint Bill
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, November 7, 2011 · ·
In filings at the FCC, Sprint Nextel had moved to block Dish Network’s application to provide nationwide mobile wireless LTE service over a hybrid satellite-terrestrial and fixed-broadband network using spectrum obtained via its acquisitions of TerreStar and DBSD, satellite carriers that Dish had successfully bid out of bankruptcy. Sprint’s objection centered on approximately $104 million in outstanding bandwidth payments owed to Sprint by both TerreStar and DBSD.
On Friday November 4, Dish Network settled the amount owed. The total amount paid to Sprint Nextel was not disclosed. Sprint now has withdrawn its objections to Dish Network’s plan.
This is a positive move for the second place satellite video provider. Dish Network recently released its third quarter subscriber information, noting a loss of 111,ooo subscribers. Dish also noted that revenues were up 12%; better than this time one year ago.
What’s Next for Dish? LightSquared?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, September 26, 2011 · ·
According to an article published by Bloomberg, Dish Network might partner with or buy its way further into the wireless business. Earlier this year, Dish Network, the nation’s second largest satellite entertainment provider, acquired spectrum in transactions that resulted in the purchase of DBSD America and Terrastar Network. Last month, in a paper filed at the FCC, Dish Network requested permissions to offer mobile high-speed Internet services to its customers.
Speaking with Bloomberg, Dish Network CEO Joseph Clayton said, “We’ll look at partnerships, acquisitions, all of the above,” in response to whether Dish was considering purchasing or partnering with Clearwire or Sprint. He added, “there are several missing pieces, wireless infrastructure, additional technology capabilities and even distribution are pieces that we are working on. Stay tuned.”
This all leads to the question of what Dish’s plans mean for LightSquared, who previously announced a deal with Sprint. Read more
Options for Clearwire?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, August 22, 2011 · ·
According to a Bloomberg report, nearly all the parties with a financial interest in Clearwire are discussing just what to do with the wireless broadband provider. Sprint is the majority investor, with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Cablevision Systems and Bright House owning minority shares of the venture.
The Bloomberg report indicates that without a funding infusion, Clearwire will be out of money at the end of 2012. Clearwire has announced a plan to role out 4G LTE technology as an overlay of its existing mobile WiMax network. Read more
LightSquared and Sprint Sign 15-Year Deal
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, July 29, 2011 · ·
LightSquared has signed a 15-year deal with Sprint-Nextel for spectrum hosting and network services. Sprint will earn $9 billion while allowing $4.5 billion in usage credits to LightSquared in the first 11 years. LightSquared wholesale customers will have access to 4G and 3G data services in a nationwide footprint. Sprint and LightSquared indicated that their agreement is subject to resolving the ongoing GPS interference concerns and final approval by the FCC. Read more
LightSquared Over the Hump?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, June 20, 2011 · ·
As we reported last week, LightSquared had been testing possible remedies to a looming GPS interference problem. Today, LightSquared outlined what the operator is calling a “comprehensive solution” to the interference issues.
As part of its proposed solution, the company will no longer launch its network in a 10 MHz chunk of its spectrum that tests showed caused interference with many GPS receivers. Instead, LightSquared said it recently reached an agreement with Inmarsat, the satellite company that controls an alternative 10 MHz block of spectrum in the L Band, to gain access to a lower spectrum band sooner than it initially anticipated. This new block is located further away from the GPS frequencies.
“Test results show this lower block of frequencies is largely free of interference issues with the exception of a limited number of high precision GPS receivers that are specifically designed to rely on LightSquared’s spectrum,” the company said in its press release.
Further, as part of this revised plan, LightSquared will modify its FCC license to reduce the maximum authorized power of its base-station transmitters by over 50%. This action will limit LightSquared to the power it was authorized to use in 2005.