LightSquared rollout on schedule despite satellite glitch

LightSquared said its LTE network rollout is expected to proceed on schedule, despite a glitch with its recently deployed satellite.
Boeing, which built and launched the satellite for LightSquared, said the satellite is “stable and healthy.”
“The L-band antenna reflector on the SkyTerra 1 satellite has not been fully deployed. Boeing, in close partnership with its LightSquared customer, has assembled a team of experts to assess progress and continue deployment of the antenna. As with any post-launch checkout, it’s not unexpected for minor delays to occur, and we are proceeding to complete in-orbit testing and hand over the satellite and its Space Based Network to LightSquared in early 2011.”
The Boeing 702HP satellite was launched Nov. 14 by International Launch Services via a Proton Breeze M “vehicle” that took off from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome just after noon Eastern Time on Sunday. In addition to its embedded telecommunications capabilities, the satellite is also capable of integrating with LightSquared’s plans for a ground-based cellular network that will include approximately 40,000 base stations.