LightSquared And Garmin Reach Agreement On Spectrum Use For L-Band

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LightSquared And Garmin Reach Agreement On Spectrum Use For L-Band

December 17, 2015 - Today, New LightSquared reached agreement with Garmin on spectrum use parameters for terrestrial service in the L-Band relating to the new company’s licenses as regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Back in 2011, the organization of the Coalition to Save Our GPS, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and a number of GPS receiver manufacturers such as Garmin raised concerns.

The concern was the mobile satellite company, LightSquared was planning to develop a wholesale 4G LTE wireless broadband communications network which would use the upper frequency band, a frequency band that had been reserved of GPS receivers. The concern was, if LightSquared was allowed to use this frequency band it would significantly interfere with the GPS receiver signal.

Today's agreement marks the end of a number of disputes between the parties over the mobile operator’s use of spectrum for ground-based wireless broadband services. Under the agreement, New LightSquared agreed to reduce out-of-band emissions and power levels from currently authorized levels and to file a request at the FCC forgoing terrestrial use on parts of the spectrum.

Subject to these network commitments, Garmin agreed not to object to the new company’s terrestrial deployment plans in the spectrum located between 1627-1680 MHz. As part of this agreement, the parties also finalized settlement of a lawsuit involving claims between the parties.

In announcing the agreement and settlement, Doug Smith, the company’s chief executive officer, stated, “We are glad to finally find resolution to these important spectrum issues and are pleased to reach an end to the case against Garmin. We will provide increased protections for Garmin’s interests by agreeing to power levels on our uplink and downlink frequencies, dialing down our out-of-band emissions, and by requesting that the FCC modify our license to forgo terrestrial use of the downlink band closest to the GPS signal. Because of these commitments to protect GPS interests, we are pleased that Garmin will not object to the new company’s use of its spectrum located between 1627-1680 MHz for terrestrial service.”

Smith added, “We are also pleased that the added protections at 1526-1536 MHz have addressed Garmin’s concerns for devices other than certified aviation equipment. We understand that we need to work with the aviation community to address any outstanding concerns and are committed to working closely with Garmin, the Department of Transportation, the FAA and others in this community to find a similar peaceful coexistence between the two services. I am confident we can find that compromise over time so these select frequencies can be utilized.”

As part of the agreement, New LightSquared will make filings at the FCC that commit to conditions on spectrum use and uplink and downlink limits, and Garmin agrees it will not object to the company’s deployment of a network in the spectrum bands, 1627.5-1637.5 MHz, 1646.5-1656.5 MHz and 1670-1680 MHz, as long as such deployment is consistent with the operational parameters agreed to by the companies in the agreement.

The company’s lawsuit against Garmin and others was filed on November 1, 2013 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and later transferred to the District Court. Garmin is a world leader in satellite navigation. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, fitness, marine, aviation, and OEM applications.