Sprint’s Future 4G LTE Provider Faces Some Speed Bumps – Report Shows 4G Network Interferes With GPS
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]