LightSquared has been met with quite a bit of skepticism over their controversial satellite-based broadband service. The fear is that their satellite signals would cause signal interference for the nearby GPS satellites. LightSquared‘s signals are significantly more powerful than signals transmitting from the GPS satellite constellation. This raises quite a bit of concern, as our society has become quickly dependent on those GPS signals.
Despite the controversy and skepticism, the CEO of LightSquared, Sanjiv Ahuja, remains publicly optimistic. “The NTIA’s letter has established a path forward that will finally allow LightSquared to put concerns about the impact of its network on GPS to rest,” said Ahuja. “LightSquared has already undergone one of the most extensive batteries of interference testing ever conducted and remains confident that this new round of testing will confirm those earlier results.”
The concerns of GPS signal interference are widespread. GPS signal are used to navigate flight plans, conduct military operations, respond quickly to emergencies and to conduct environmental research. “NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has concerns about the impacts of LightSquared because, depending on how it’s implemented, it touches so many parts of our warning missions, from our radars on the ground to the satellites that are operating in space,” explained Mary Glackin, NOAA’s deputy under secretary.
The NOAA were not alone in calling for more testing of LightSquared’s signal. The head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Larry Strickling, also called for more testing to determine the impact of LightSquared’s signals on personal GPS devices, in a recent letter addressed to the Defense and Transportation departments. LightSquared appears unscathed by all the skepticism, and remains confident that they will be able to meet all requirements and finally get their service on the market. Only time will tell if that confidence is warranted.
Article Written by Marisa O’Connor
