LightSquared has been plagued with issues as they build out their own LTE network. LightSquared will be a wholesale LTE provider (think Clearwire). In fact they just signed a $20 billion contact as reported here by Lives2Learn. Well in light of all that they have had a major GPS interference issue – one that would stop them cold in their tracks. Well they announced they have found a way to fix it.

The company, which owns spectrum in the L-band (1525 through 1559 MHz and 1626.6 to 1660.5 MHz) has found a way to push through and past the GPS issues. Basically their initial idea was to run on the lower 10 MHz block of the L-Band. This is close enough to GPS that they caused issues and in some cases cancelled each other out. Now the company [LightSquared] has come out to say that they are going to use the higher 10 MHz for deployment. They state that they were saving this resource for future expansion but given light to the issues that they will just stop development in that lower range and go to the higher range; this in return seems to resolve any GPS issues they were having. To see the full press release click here.

So PPCGeekers does this mean that you will want to trust their decision and use them for LTE? Do you think this will eventually re-pop up if they expand and need that other 10 MHz band? Tell me down below – as it has me pondering what will happen in a few years when Sprint grows their LTE network using LightSquared technology.

Source: fierceWireless

Sprint Nextel Corp and LightSquared Inc. are joining forces to provided Sprint users with a better high-speed wireless experience. Philip Falcone (owner of LightSquared Inc.) announced to his investors that the companies were discussing a $20 billion deal.  For Falcone, this deal is very important. He is basically gambling 60% of his trust fund on this project. But if this pays off like Falcone is expecting, it will have been worth the risk. Investors are excited about the deal with sprint. They were quoted, “It’s a step in the right direction given all the uncertainty around this investment.”

Investors are referring to the challenge that Falcone laid out regarding Verizon Wireless and ATT about networks and rivaling their wireless networks.

The plan is that Sprint and LightSquared will jointly develop the 4G LTE network. Obviously since Sprint is helping to develop the network they are going to be the main customer of the 4G LTE network.

For Sprint this is  a BIG deal. If they are able to build up this 4G LTE network, then Sprint, who is currently the third largest US wireless company, will be even better suited to keep up/surpass ATT. The hope with this merger with LightSquared is that it will lessen the load on Sprints current data servers. Many sprint customers may be finding their data running a bit slower than they like (something most of us can relate too) this is due to the high volume of data usage on the Sprint Network. Which is most likely due to Sprints Unlimited Data plans (which in the humble opinion of this writer is freaking sweet and is something that carriers like ATT should really look in to)

There is still some work to be done both by Sprint and by LightSquared Inc. For instance, there is a study due to release around July 1 about whether or not this new system would interfere with global-positioning systems. But if they can iron out the issues, this could mean much better network speeds for Sprint users.

Source: Fiercewireless

Sprint and LightSquared Inc. are in discussion to share cell sites equipment, helping build out each others network. The deal, if it goes through, would allow LightSquared to roll out its network faster and cheaper then their current thought of methods. With Sprint planing to spend $5 billion in infrastructure upgrades in the near future, this would leave Sprint with extra capacity in which they can offer to LightSquared is what’s being said.

If you aren’t familiar with LightSquared, they are backed by Falcone’s Harbinger Capital Partners hedge fund and are out to compete with AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless and Clearwire Corp. selling so-called fourth-generation wireless service. Falcone has invested billions and faces government deadlines for building out his network. According to sources, he agreed last year to the Federal Communications Commission conditions that he will employ a combination satellite-terrestrial network for as many as 100 million Americans by the end of 2012 and 260 million by 2016. Interesting plan they have in store and maybe they will succeed. This kind of deal would put more pressure on Clearwire to hurry and get moving faster.

If the deal goes through, this would give Sprint the option to send traffic to LightSquared or to Clearwire. This could possibly cause even more changes in data prices that most of us don’t even want to discuss. That’s a very touchy topic, especially if prices are being said to increase. We aren’t saying it would happen for sure but sources suggest it would very well be possible.

LightSquared recently announced they plan to invest $586 million into its network build-out. They have also said they have agreements with five customers to provide wholesale 4G service, including two carriers, a national retailer, a device manufacturer and a website. They are also said to be in talks for nationwide wholesale service with a carrier based outside of the U.S.

What do you think about this news? Let us know your opinions in the comment boxes below.

Source: BusinessWeek