@ LTE N.A. 2010: LightSquared set for first satellite launch

DALLAS – LightSquared’s ambitious plans to offer a satellite/terrestrial-based wholesale wireless network is set to get off the ground this weekend as the company’s first satellite is scheduled to launch into space.
Speaking during an opening keynote session at today’s LTE North America event in Dallas, LightSquared EVP Martin Harriman said the launch is the first step in the company’s planned LTE-based wholesale network operations. Those operations are to include a 40,000-cell site terrestrial LTE network being deployed by Nokia Siemens Networks that will cover around 90% of the population of the United States and a satellite component that will provide for 100% coverage.
Harriman also tried to clarify the relationship between the terrestrial and satellite operations noting that the satellite component would not be using LTE technology, but instead an “analogous” standard that would allow for seamless integration with its ground-based LTE network. Harriman added that customers would not receive the same high-speed network capabilities from the satellite portion of its offering, but would instead benefit from having connectivity virtually anywhere in the country.
“Our customers will have the best experience from or terrestrial network, the second best from using one of our roaming partners’ terrestrial networks and then the next best using our satellite network,” Harriman said, stressing that the satellite component would be complementary to its terrestrial offering.
Harriman added that LightSquared had collected around $2 billion in funding to this point, which was enough to get a significant portion of its terrestrial network built and that it was looking at a number of options, including debt or equity, to raise additional funds. The scheduled satellite launch will not tap into its recent funding announcements as that portion of its operations have already been paid for, Harriman explained.