LightSquared network to rely on Sprint

FT.com.

LightSquared would put its equipment on towers owned by Sprint, the third-largest US mobile operator, in a move that could accelerate the construction of the network masterminded by Falcone, said people familiar with the matter.

According to The Wall Street Journal, LightSquared proposed using another block of spectrum that would not interfere with GPS signals. The move is designed to assuage fears that its network could potentially hobble navigation systems on planes or with equipment used in agriculture and surveying.

“This is a solution which ensures that tens of millions of GPS users won't be affected by LightSquared's launch. What's absolutely clear is American consumers absolutely need this network,” LightSquared chief executive Sanjiv Ahuja said in an interview.

PC World reports that LightSquared plans to offer mobile broadband over both satellite and LTE, reaching remote areas of the US while serving metropolitan areas with high-speed wireless.

The US Federal Communications Commission granted the company spectrum that lies near the GPS band on the condition that it works with GPS vendors, regulators and users to prevent interference between the services.