7 replies to this topic

[nofixedaddress]

There has been an ever increasing battle raging over in the US that has implications for all of us that use GPS technologies.

It would appear to me that Lightsquared (a Company providing wireless internet access) has developed a 4G broadband wireless system that incorporates a satellite component and they have done so with their heads firmly up their backsides!

What they have done is adopted a frequency that is very close to the main L1 GPS frequency which will cause interference with the GPS signal.

The US Government has allowed the company to proceed with the development without so much as a second thought to impact on the countless millions using GPS.

If you want to read some of the questions that are being asked and Lightsquared response (or lack there of) see here.

Won't affect us? It is highly likely! Lightsquared has plans to go global with this.

I wouldn't be buying Lightsquared shares any time soon............with the US being the land of litigation and all.

NFA

Edited by nofixedaddress, 29 April 2011 - 05:34 PM.

[nofixedaddress]

Now I know you have all been on the edge of your chairs worrying about this issue (well.... 3 of you at least).

Looks like the US Dept of Defence and Dept of Transport has told the FCC to rescind the approval and advise Lightsquared to look for another spectrum well away from the GPS frequencies.

Has been a very long and drawn out battle with LS embedding advocates into online discussions disguised as the general public. They even managed to sway an opportunist GPS manufacturer to take up LS position and attack other GPS companies.

I could not believe it took this long for common sense to prevail.

Still it is an election year and any thing is still possible. Don't throw your old street directories out just yet...............

NFA

[Catostylus]

Thanks for the update on this - I was aware of the problem but didn't know there was a thread here on it.

Please post any more news you get on this.

[nofixedaddress]

Will do.

I have been dipping into the debate over the past year to look at what was happening.

Would have been a while for any effects to be felt in Oz but if the USA approved it then we should no chance of fighting them off. Europe also has been pressured to accept the LS proposal to a lesser degree. The US position was the key to it all.

Still flabbergasted that the FCC allowed it to progress to this stage. So much money has been wasted on fighting this proposal when it should not have seen the light of day in the first place.

NFA

[nofixedaddress]

Looks like the full figured lady is warming up her vocal cords and has started for the stage on this one.

The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has just released it's findings and in part they state "We conclude that LightSquared's proposed mobile broadband network will impact GPS services and that there is no practical way to mitigate the potential interference at this time".

Looks like Lightsquared planned roll out is dead in the water......for now.

The NTIA also goes on to ask for additional standards to look at interference of the GPS signal for terrestrial based signals close to the GPS bands. This could mean possible future applications.

The FCC has the final say but they have already started to side with the NTIA who is the more powerful of the two organisations.

NFA

[wolster]

Just saw this.
Phew! Thank goodness you were looking after our interests, NFA.

[Catostylus]

Yep. We owe you a $beverage_of_choice.

[nofixedaddress]

Imagine the impact on SNA GTG's ?

One would have to use a street directory!

I did write to the FCC warning them of this impact on SNA activities.




I think that is what swayed them...........


NFA