GPS Industry Versus LightSquared Technology
LightSquared published an open letter blaming the GPS industry for their company’s difficult attempts in successfully rolling out their nationwide LTE (4G) wireless network. In the letter LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja claims that recent concerns have been raised that the use of LightSquared technology could interfere with current GPS systems, namely systems used by emergency response, military and daily civilian GPS systems. Ahuja claims that the interference is “caused by others inappropriate use of LightSquared’s licensed spectrum”.
Questions have been raised about Ahuja’s accusation since the problem isn’t that GPS systems are using LightSquared licensed frequencies. In truth, the problem is the power of LightSquared’s proposed terrestrial signal combined with existing GPS receivers, which were designed with the assumption only lower power satellite signals would be transmitted on adjacent frequencies.
Until recently the only terrestrial transmissions allowed to operate on those frequencies were used to fill gaps in satellite coverage.
LightSquared claims that they have a device that will fix the problem, but industry insiders say that a product that eliminates interference can not be made. To date this product has not been revealed to the public or gone through the testing that would ultimately convince their strongest critics.
According to LightSquared, fixing the problem would require retrofitting the affected high precision GPS receivers to filter out their signal or replacing them entirely. This will come at great cost to the Federal Government so Lightsquared has offered to cover their cost while hinting that other companies will have to carry the cost on their own.
The cost they intend to cover for the Federal Government will undoubtedly be recovered through profits if their plan is allowed to go through. But unless LightSquared can come up with a solution that will fix the problem on their end instead of requiring replacement of expensive high precision GPS equipment, not only at high cost to themselves but also other companies who will not benefit at the same rate as LightSquared, then their plan may be halted in its tracks.
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