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Another bump in the road for Sprint and their plans to give their customers high speed 4G data. A new government test is showing that LightSquared — Sprint’s future 4G LTE provider — 4G network could interfere with a “great majority” of GPS devices here in the US. If true, this would knock out a large number of military and personal GPS devices. Despite LightSquared’s efforts to use frequencies for their 4G network that were furthest away from GPS signals, according to preliminary data, it still could be too close for comfort.
Needless to say, LightSquared is reportedly “outraged” with Martin Harriman, executive vice president of ecosystem development and satellite business, firing back saying,
“By ignoring this commitment by LightSquared, this conclusion is erroneously based on estimated power levels that are up to 15 times the levels guaranteed by LightSquared.”
The FCC gave LightSquared permission to build out their new network as long as it didn’t interfere with GPS signals. The final testing report is scheduled to be delivered later this year.
[Via WSJ]
Is this a possible reason as to why Verizon is having issues?
No.
are you sure about it affecting military gps? They use different channels, not the ones used by consumer GPS. According to this, http://www.pnt.gov/interference/lightsquared/
the issue is that older devices do not filter data properly.
Apparently, that’s what the report is saying and what has LightSquared so upset..
Maybe you should take a look at this Chris…
http://s4gru.spruz.com/pt/New-Network-Vision-and-LTE-Deployment-info-released-in-Sprint-Webinar-today/blog.htm
Ive been reading about this issue for years. Why wont lightsquared just drop it and move to a different chunk of spectrum. Everyone will be in an outrage if they effect GPS enough to notice a difference. I’m sure they will have so many lawsuits, they’ll go bankrupt right after going live.
Just how Nextel used to use the emergency hotline frequency, so during disasters, no one could call for emergency when cell towers went out since Nextel subscribers used that line and it hogged up all the room.
Isn’t Sprint building out their own LTE network? They’re not using Lightsquared or Clear for LTE as a base for their network.
Wrong.
yes.. you’re very wrong.
LOL, people that think sprint is depending on lightsquared for their 4g LTE needs are wrong on so many level. I guess they didn’t read anything about network vision and the presentations sprint made. They are just hosting lightsquared spectrum on their towers. Their LTE network is independent of lightsquared, they even said it in their press conference that they can walk away from lightsquare deal anytime they want. I am sure they already have the Lte testing underway in major cities they are planning on lighting up next year.
you are correct. http://s4gru.spruz.com/pt/Sprint-announces-first-Network-Vision-tower-with-CDMA–LTE-live/blog.htm
Maybe the GN will be a LTE device for Sprint? *manly scream*
I think people are mistaken here. From what I read, sprint has its own 4G lte frequency. It is not using Light squared spectrum. It has nothing to do with sprint launching their own 4g LTE service. From what I was reading Sprint is launching its own 4G LTE service and they will host light squared LTE on their towers on a separate spectrum. LigthSquared is paying sprint to use their towers and also has a roaming agreement with sprint to fall back on their 3g network. This has nothing to do with sprint launching LTE, from what I read sprint is not licensing LTE From lightsquared, light squared is just using sprint’s towers.
you are right..
I thought you were wrong (I read about the lightsquared agreement) and when I went back to find my source, I found that I read the article incorrectly. Thanks!
Sprint lacks significant funding, have huge amounts of debt and originally intended on sticking with WiMax for the long term. I believe the Sprint deal with Lightsquared is similar to the deal with Clearwire. Sprint gets funding and Sprint plans for both those companies to build out LTE with their own spectrum.
Sprint knew that it would take a long time to free up the spectrum tied up in the iden network. So they setup a partnership to develop a short term 4G network using wimax. If wimax was their long term solution they would have built it themselves.
Contrary to what the article says, sprint is building their own LTE network. Phandroid should correct this article. I’m surprised they would make such a mistake.
Well, I hope they’re making enough renting out their towers to pay for the stupid ass contract they made with Apple to get the iPhone.
Apple was only sold on 2 carriers, Sprint shouldn’t have had to appease Apple so much to come to Sprint. Esp, when Apple’s market share is plummeting. If they would’ve just waited it out, Apple would’ve begged to come onto Sprint. I swear, Sprint has some of the dumbest executives working for it. Now, they are cashed strapped paying for the Apple deal, Wimax *and* LTE!
IKR!? My Sprint 3G is sooo slow in a majority of Houston. Such an urban city, I should be flourished in it. :P
But at least iPhone won’t hog down the 4G. :D
yeah they really botched up. Well, at least they don’t have to worry about a super AT&T
Man! Am I GLAD I LEFT SORRY ASS SPRINT AND CAME BACK HOME TO AT&T!
You really showed them.
lol
funny #4 in customer service ranked the worst in the us of the big 4 carriers
Funny that their MVNO ranked #1 in customer service and quality.
#somethingdoesntaddup
This is ture, this report is really misleading and makes it seem that sprint is licensing from lightsquared, when lightsquared has their own frequency that sprint will put up on their towers. They did announce it in network vision that their 4g lte network is separate from lightsquared. Lightsquared will run on a different spectrum and sprint will install equipment on their own towers and it will be lit up upon government approval and they have the right to walk away from the deal if lightsquared cant fix it. Lightsquared gets 3g roaming from sprint. Sprint is already well under way with their 4g lte network.
This article is extremely misleading.
Sprint is building out their own LTE network, so don’t get worked up guys, Sprint still has everything going as planned, but as for LightSquared…. Best of luck to them. This could pose a major threat to them unless a solution is made while keeping a decent spectrum.
http://androidair.blogspot.com/
take this down its wrong
Sprint is already has test markets for LTE. Sprint will have there own LTE and lightsquared would just use Sprints network vision to deploy there own LTE on there slot of frequency.
hurry up sprint i want a new phone. you will be my next carrier i just dont want to buy a wimax dexice.
As much as I love technology, and as a Sprint customer I want the Sprint network to become better, I DO NOT want it to come at the cost of our military and national security. A US general had actually testified and the Obama administration “pressured” him to soften up his testimony so that LightSquared could get the green light. It’s ugly and scary and politics as usual. Filling up with money from their pockets straight to their nose with lobbying dollars. Typical politicians trying to get rich at even the cost of national security and the lives of our military and even citizens. Scum of the Earth. Just Google “Lightsquared controversy” or “lightsquared cover up” if you want to learn more.
As much as I love technology, and as a Sprint customer I want the Sprint network to become better, I DO NOT want it to come at the cost of our military and national security. A US general had actually testified and the Obama administration “pressured” him to soften up his testimony so that LightSquared could get the green light. It’s ugly and scary and politics as usual. Filling up with money from their pockets straight to their nose with lobbying dollars. Typical politicians trying to get rich at even the cost of national security and the lives of our military and even citizens. Scum of the Earth. Just Google “Lightsquared controversy” or “lightsquared cover up” if you want to learn more.
As much as I love technology, and as a Sprint customer I want the Sprint network to become better, I DO NOT want it to come at the cost of our military and national security. A US general had actually testified and the Obama administration “pressured” him to soften up his testimony so that LightSquared could get the green light. It’s ugly and scary and politics as usual. Filling up with money from their pockets straight to their nose with lobbying dollars. Typical politicians trying to get rich at even the cost of national security and the lives of our military and even citizens. Scum of the Earth. Just Google “Lightsquared controversy” or “lightsquared cover up” if you want to learn more.
Sprint seems to have put all of their eggs in the iphone basket, and with other carriers actually pushing out devices with Lte 4G and networks built to support them, i can see Sprint losing more customers including me when my contract is up, iphones on Sprint only support their mediocre speeds and for the holidays Sprint hasn’t relesed anything that makes you say this is the must have device of the yearas they did in 2010 with the HTC Evo 4G, well Sprint is’ been a nice ride but you get what you pay which is a crappy network with SLOW data speeds.
There is no “conspiracy” here from lobbyists or from the President. I really wish people would stop saying that. 2 d-bag congressmen decided to “investigate” and they didn’t come up with anything. Lightsquared has already agreed to only use the low end of the frequency and even offered to help pay the GPS companies’ expenses in making their technology better. The GPS companies had PLENTY of warning that they weren’t making their units the way they were supposed to. It’s like borrowing a bunch of money and then being mad that you have to pay it back. They have known since 2003 what Lightsquared’s plans are. They are the ones that chose to rip of their customers and still sell GPS units that use the wrong frequency range. It kind of reminds me of OnStar when analog got shut off. GM gave customers coupons for a few thousand off a new car.