LightSquared is a wireless operator run by a hedge fund. Chances are you haven’t heard of them because, well … their network hasn’t actually launched yet. They’ve been wanting to build a wireless network for about 18 months now, but the problem is that the spectrum they want to use to build said network sits…
Sprint gives LightSquared one more chance, they have until March to get the FCC’s blessing
Sprint and LightSquared are both facing an incredibly tricky situation. Starting with Sprint, they were America’s first operator to launch a “4G” network, but they made the mistake of betting on WiMAX technology while the rest of the world chose to wait for LTE equipment to hit the market. It took a few years, but…
The FCC wants to hear your thoughts about LightSquared’s proposed 4G LTE network
LightSquared, the wireless operator run by a hedge fund, has been wanting to launch their network for the past 18 months. There’s a slight problem though. The spectrum they want to use to launch said network sits way too close to the same spectrum that GPS devices use to get a satellite fix and calculate…
Carl Icahn buys $300 million worth of LightSquared debt, sees the company imploding soon
Two summers ago when we first heard about LightSquared our faces lit up like a child on Christmas day. Their proposal to launch a brand spanking new nationwide LTE network that would be a dumb pipe that other companies would then resell to end users was just the kind of thing that the wireless industry…
Nine federal agencies give LightSquared the thumbs down, say GPS interference is unavoidable
One of my favorite news items from the summer of 2010 was a story about a scrappy new operator called LightSquared that was aiming to compete with America’s largest operators by launching a national wholesale LTE network. The goal was to build the fastest and dumbest pipe the country had ever seen, and then let…
New LightSquared CFO is the same guy who orchestrated the Sprint Nextel merger
Effective immediately, Marc Montagner is the new Chief Financial Office of LightSquared, the wireless operator that’s trying to get approval to turn on their network, but can’t seem to prove that they don’t break GPS. Now Marc’s name may not sound familiar, but he used to work at Sprint where he orchestrated the merger with…
LightSquared throws a hissy fit, tells the FCC to recognize their rights to use spectrum they paid for
LightSquared is an operator that’s having a tough time getting off the ground. Their problem? The spectrum they purchased with the intent of creating an LTE network sits way too close to the spectrum that GPS uses. Early tests of LightSquared’s network showed that GPS receivers within a 20 mile radius of a LightSquared cell…
LightSquared asks the FCC to test their network, yet again
LightSquared, for those of you who don’t know about this dismal failure of a company, wants to revolutionize the American wireless industry by launching a 4G LTE network that they’ll sell access to via wholesale rates to companies who then resell said service to consumers. Announced back in July 2010, they’ve been having issues getting…
Skype co-founder wants to launch a 21st century version of NetZero with the help of LightSquared
Once upon a time, over a decade ago, to get online your computer needed to make a phone call to an internet service provider who would then give you access to the world wide web at an abysmally slow 0.05 megabits per second. Since your computer could dial any number to connect to the web,…
Further testing of LightSquared’s LTE network show 75% of GPS receivers experience interference
When LightSquared first announced their plans to build a $7 billion LTE network that they would sell access to via a wholesale businesses model, we were ridiculously excited. That was back in July 2010. Here we are, about to enter 2012, and LightSquared’s plans have changed so drastically that we’re having doubts that they’ll even…