Press Releases
- August 21, 2012
Doug Smith Appointed Chairman of the Board and CEO of LightSquared - May 14, 2012
LightSquared Implements Voluntary Chapter 11 Restructuring - April 20, 2012
LightSquared’s Amended Agreement with Inmarsat Enhances Opportunities for Increased Competition and Universal Access to Broadband Wireless Coverage Across Entire U.S. - March 30, 2012
LightSquared Says Proposed FCC Ruling Is Legally Unprecedented, Not Supported By Technical Evidence, And Inconsistent With Other Recent Commission Action - March 16, 2012
LightSquared Says FCC’s Proposal Would Undermine Wireless Investment, Create Regulatory Uncertainty - March 16, 2012
LightSquared Says Sprint’s Contract Termination Is in the Best Business Interests of Both Companies - March 6, 2012
LightSquared Announces Extension of Emulation on its SkyTerra-1 Satellite Network for Existing Customers - February 28, 2012
LightSquared Undertakes Search for New CEO; Affirms Intent to Build Wireless Network - February 20, 2012
LightSquared Statement Regarding Inmarsat Notice - February 15, 2012
LightSquared Response to FCC Public Notice - February 14, 2012
LightSquared Remains Committed to Finding Resolution - February 7, 2012
LightSquared Calls on FCC to Initiate Receiver Reliability Standards, Set Level Playing Field for Spectrum Licensees - January 23, 2012
Telecom Ventures Partners with LightSquared to Offer Branded Mobile Broadband Services to Underserved Markets - January 19, 2012
Jolt Mobile Partners with LightSquared to Deliver High-Speed Wireless Data Services to Ethnic Communities - January 18, 2012
Former FCC Chief Engineer and LightSquared Question Validity of Test Results Rigged by GPS Industry Insiders - January 17, 2012
Hometown Telecom to Provide Mobile Broadband Services Using LightSquared’s Network - January 13, 2012
Government Committee’s Refusal to Continue Testing Highlights Systemic Pattern of Bias and Collusion - January 6, 2012
The ISP Store Partners with LightSquared to Deliver Wireless Broadband Services to its Extensive Roster of ISP Customers - January 5, 2012
Broadcore to Run Next-Generation Communications Solutions Over LightSquared’s Network - January 3, 2012
LightSquared Names Marc Montagner Chief Financial Officer - December 23, 2011
Independent Lab Tests Verify High-Precision GPS Devices Can Coexist with LightSquared - December 20, 2011
LightSquared Files Petition for Declaratory Ruling, Asks FCC to Confirm Its Rights as Spectrum Licensee - December 16, 2011
Quantum Networks Partners with LightSquared to Deliver 4G Connectivity - December 14, 2011
Statement from Sanjiv Ahuja, CEO of LightSquared - December 14, 2011
Gateway Communications Services, Inc. to Deliver Branded Wireless Services Using LightSquared’s Wholesale Network - December 9, 2011
Martin Harriman, Executive Vice President of Ecosystem Development and Satellite Business, Issues Statement about Illegal Leak of Testing Data - December 9, 2011
LightSquared Has Now Signed More Than 30 Wholesale Customers - December 8, 2011
LightSquared and Skype Co-Founder’s FreedomPop Partner to Offer Free Broadband Services - December 7, 2011
Testing by World-Renowned Independent Laboratory Shows LightSquared is Compatible with High-Precision GPS Devices - December 6, 2011
Elevate, Inc. Strengthens Services Portfolio with 4G-LTE Wireless Broadband Service from LightSquared - December 1, 2011
LightSquared and Smarter Car to Connect Dealerships and Drivers with Critical Vehicle Information - November 30, 2011
Lawmakers, Technology Experts and Rural Advocates Call on Government to Find Speedy Solution to Spectrum Crunch - November 29, 2011
Cellular Product Distributors and LightSquared Partner to Bundle Hotspot Device and 4G Connectivity - November 28, 2011
EATEL Becomes First Local Exchange Carrier to Partner with LightSquared - November 22, 2011
Soundtracker Turns to LightSquared to Revolutionize the Mobile Music Business - November 9, 2011
LightSquared and Javad GNSS Present Findings of Interference Solution at PNT Advisory Board Meeting - November 8, 2011
Statement by Terry Neal, Senior Vice President Public Relations and Communications at LightSquared - November 8, 2011
Red Pocket Mobile Partners with LightSquared to Deliver No Contract Wireless Data Services to Customers - November 3, 2011
m-banco to Offer Mobile Financial Services Using LightSquared Network - October 27, 2011
Statement by Jeff Carlisle, Executive Vice President for Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy at LightSquared - October 27, 2011
LightSquared and PCTEL Protect High Precision GPS Applications - October 24, 2011
LightSquared Announces Brightstar as Preferred Supply Chain Services Provider - October 13, 2011
LightSquared Shows Filtering Technology - October 12, 2011
LightSquared and Aircado to Bring Wireless Broadband to “Micropolitan” Markets Across the Country - October 10, 2011
LightSquared to Present at the 2011 Deutsche Bank Securities Leveraged Finance Conference - October 5, 2011
LightSquared and CareConnect to Mobilize Seniors - October 3, 2011
LightSquared Announces Collaboration with Sharp® on L-Band Smartphone and Tablet Product Development - October 1, 2011
Statement from Curtis Lu, General Counsel of LightSquared - September 29, 2011
LightSquared Signs Multi-Year Wholesale Agreement with YourTel America - September 27, 2011
Letter from Farming Organizations to Congress in Support of LightSquared and GPS Collaboration - September 26, 2011
LightSquared Signs Multi-Year Wholesale Agreement with AirTouch Communications - September 25, 2011
Open Letter from LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja - September 22, 2011
LightSquared Chief Financial Officer and Chief Marketing Officer Presented at the Goldman Sachs 20th Annual Communacopia Conference on September 22 - September 21, 2011
LightSquared Announces Simple, Affordable Solution to GPS Interference Issues - September 20, 2011
LightSquared Selects Industry-Leading Systems Integrator and Business Support Systems Vendors to Manage Wholesale Platform - September 12, 2011
LightSquared Signs Multi-Year Wholesale Agreement with VoX Communications - September 6, 2011
LightSquared and Advanta Technologies Announce Long-Term 4G-LTE Wholesale Agreement - August 30, 2011
LightSquared and Simplexity MVNO Services Sign Long-Term 4G-LTE Wholesale Agreement - August 29, 2011
LightSquared and Inmarsat Collaborate to Support Hurricane Irene Emergency Responders - August 23, 2011
LightSquared and InterGlobe Communications Sign Multi-Year 4G-LTE Wholesale Agreement - August 22, 2011
Terry Neal Joins LightSquared as Senior Vice President for Public Relations and Communications - August 15, 2011
LightSquared and EarthComm Solutions Sign Long-Term 4G-LTE Wholesale Agreement - August 11, 2011
From LightSquared: GPS Industry’s Failure to Comply With Department of Defense and International Standards for GPS Receivers Cause of Interference - August 8, 2011
LightSquared and ClearTalk Wireless Announce Bilateral 4G Roaming Agreement - August 4, 2011
LightSquared and PowerNet Global Sign Long-Term 4G-LTE Wholesale Agreement - August 3, 2011
LightSquared Completes Transition of Public Safety Users to SkyTerra 1 Satellite - August 1, 2011
LightSquared Delivers on Promise to Indian Health Service, Tribes and Tribal Organizations - July 28, 2011
Sprint Nextel and LightSquared Announce Spectrum Hosting and Network Services Agreement - July 26, 2011
LightSquared to Invest in Next Generation Push-to-Talk for Public Safety - July 7, 2011
LightSquared Forms Rural Initiative to Ensure LightSquared and GPS Co-Existence - July 5, 2011
LightSquared Secures $265 Million in Additional Financing - June 30, 2011
LightSquared Submits Nationwide Wireless Broadband Plan to FCC - June 28, 2011
LightSquared and netTALK Sign Long Term 4G-LTE Wholesale Agreement - June 20, 2011
LightSquared Solution to GPS Issue Will Clear Way for Nationwide 4G Network - April 21, 2011
LightSquared and SI Wireless Announce They Have Entered Into a Bilateral Roaming Agreement - April 20, 2011
LightSquared and Cellular South Announce They Have Entered Into a Bilateral Roaming Agreement - March 22, 2011
Cricket Enters into 4G Roaming Agreement with LightSquared - March 11, 2011
LightSquared and Open Range Partner to Expand Deployment of Nation’s First 4G LTE Wireless Broadband and Satellite Network to Rural American Communities - March 1, 2011
LightSquared and the United States GPS Industry Council File Their First Joint Report to the Federal Communications Commission - February 22, 2011
LightSquared Announces Additional Financing - February 14, 2011
LightSquared Next-Generation Satellite and Space-Based Network Successfully Completes Post Launch Testing - January 28, 2011
LightSquared Delivers Notice to Inmarsat Triggering Phase 2 of Re-Banding of L-Band Spectrum in North America - January 26, 2011
LightSquared Statement on the Federal Communications Commission Conditional Waiver of the Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) Integrated Service Rule - November 14, 2010
LightSquared Announces the Successful Launch of Next-Generation Satellite - October 19, 2010
LightSquared Announces Redemption of 14 Percent Senior Secured Discount Notes Due 2013 - October 13, 2010
LightSquared Launches Emergency Rapid Response Team - October 7, 2010
LightSquared Announces Chipset Partnership and Initial Device Manufacturers - October 3, 2010
LightSquared Announces Significant Financing - September 29, 2010
LightSquared and the Indian Health Service Partner for Remote Communications for the Indian Health System - August 18, 2010
LightSquared Delivers Notice To Inmarsat Triggering Re-Banding Of L-Band Radio Spectrum In North America - July 20, 2010
Introducing LightSquared: Revolutionizing the U.S. Wireless Industry
Statement by Jeff Carlisle, Executive Vice President for Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy at LightSquared
RESTON, Va., October 27, 2011 – The GPS industry has been saying for months that there is no solution to interference caused by GPS devices that “look in” to neighboring spectrum licensed to LightSquared. Nonetheless, in a matter of weeks three private sector companies have now announced inexpensive solutions that eliminate interference for the high precision devices in question. In fact, we announced another collaboration today with global device maker PCTEL which has developed an antenna that will allow existing high precision users to retrofit their GPS devices to make them compatible with LightSquared’s network.
The GPS industry, led by Trimble — a $5 billion company, with a direct financial stake in the outcome of this debate — continues in desperation to politicize a complex technical matter where several engineering solutions have been developed. Today, those opposed to expanding wireless access for millions distributed alarming numbers based on an outdated plan to deliberately confuse reporters with scare tactics (note the number of caveats in their statement).
Our current proposal to move our spectrum further away from GPS's spectrum will cost LightSquared $100 million and solves the interference problem for mass consumer and industrial GPS devices. Additionally, the solutions currently under development are expected to get us to complete compatibility. LightSquared has also committed $50 million toward replacing/retrofitting government devices that experience interference. The interference issues were caused by the GPS industry not filtering their devices appropriately, and we call on them to fund their share of the solution for the remaining high precision devices through a standard recall.
The Top 5 Questions the GPS Industry Should Answer:
1) Isn’t it true that the so-called “non-biased” PNT Advisory Board, which advises the Pentagon, is represented by board members of GPS companies who have a financial stake in LightSquared not getting approval to proceed?
SEC filings show that PNT Chair Brad Parkinson sold $1.5 million worth of his Trimble stock within weeks of the FCC granting the waiver to LightSquared (see Trimble’s insider trading filings with the SEC). In sum, board members sold nearly $20 million worth of stock within three weeks of LightSquared being granted the FCC waiver – three times the highest amount of stock board members and top managers had unloaded in any one month going back to at least January 2007. This demonstrates that Trimble insiders clearly viewed LightSquared as a financial threat to its commercial business. And that explains Trimble's motivation in leading the public relations and lobbying campaign against LightSquared, even as LightSquared has committed upward of $160 million solving a problem that is of the GPS industry's making. Clearly, Dr. Parkinson cannot objectively advise the Pentagon or any other government agency if he is obligated as a Trimble board member to protect the fiduciary interests of the company's shareholders.
2) Numerous annual reports and SEC filings from GPS manufacturers going back to 2001 acknowledge material harm to their business due to interference with neighboring spectrum. Why did you not prepare your devices with filters if you’ve known for ten years there would be interference problems caused by your devices looking into adjacent spectrum?
In a 2006 filing, Trimble, wrote: “Many of our products use other radio frequency bands, together with the GPS signal, to provide enhanced GPS capabilities, such as real-time kinematic precision.” As early as 2001, Trimble also wrote that “emissions from mobile satellite services and other equipment operating in adjacent frequency bands . . . may materially and adversely affect the utility and reliability of our products.”
3) True or false? Did the GPS industry manufacture devices knowing there would be interference with neighboring spectrum because this enhanced their performance?
True. SEC documents dating back several years show that GPS makers were aware of the risks associated with using spectrum that was not licensed to them (see above). Although their warnings to investors were buried in their reports to the SEC, they did nothing to mitigate their own risk. Furthermore, in April 2011, the FCC reminded the GPS industry to be mindful of their spectrum neighbors: “In the case of GPS, we note that extensive terrestrial operations have been anticipated in the L-band for at least 8 years.”
4) Who funds the Coalition to Save Our GPS?
The Coalition is not set up as a 501(c)3, and therefore not subject to standard rules of transparency. Their outreach efforts do not follow lobbying regulations, and it is unclear which of the members listed on the Coalition’s website are the majority funders.
5) Did the GPS industry falsely claim that it would take billions of dollars and more than a decade to find a solution to this problem?
Yes. It took just a few weeks for several companies – JAVAD GNSS, PCTEL and Partron America to come up with their solutions to the interference problem –
engineering solutions that will undoubtedly benefit the industry with lower costs and more innovation.
About LightSquared
LightSquared’s mission is to revolutionize the U.S. wireless industry. With the creation of the first-ever, wholesale-only nationwide 4G-LTE network integrated with satellite coverage, LightSquared offers people the speed, value and reliability of universal connectivity, wherever they are in the United States. As a wholesale-only operator, LightSquared will deploy an open 4G wireless broadband network to be used by existing and new service providers to sell their own devices, applications and services – at a competitive cost and without retail competition from LightSquared. The deployment and operation of LightSquared’s network represent more than $14 billion of private investment over the next eight years. For more information about LightSquared, please go to www.LightSquared.com, www.facebook.com/LightSquared and www.twitter.com/LightSquared.
# # #
CONTACT:
Chris Stern
Burson-Marsteller for LightSquared
Tel: (202) 530-4737
chris.stern@bm.com
Forward Looking Statement:
This release contains forward-looking statements and information regarding LightSquared and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of LightSquared’s management and are, therefore, subject to certain risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements expressed herein relate only to information as of the date of this release. LightSquared has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, nor is there any assurance that the plans or strategies discussed in this release will not change.


