LightSquared has expressed outrage at a leaked government report over the findings of GPS interference tests that were concluded last week. The report, that was leaked by Bloomberg News, stated that the tests had shown that LightSquared’s LTE network would interfere with 75 percent of GPS devices tested. LightSquared has retaliated by issuing a statement that confirms that the report was based on selective data and reflected power levels 32 times higher than LightSquared actually plans to use.
“It is apparent that this leak was intended to damage LightSquared’s reputation, spread false information in the marketplace, and prejudice public opinion against LightSquared” before a full analysis of the rest results is presented to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and other key agencies, LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja said in a letter to the co-chairs of the National Executive Committee for Space-based PNT. He asked for a public statement to clarify the information and an investigation into the circumstances of the leak.
The company believes that the FCC will make a decision in their favor sometime in the first quarter of next year. Last month, the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) oversaw the second set of tests to determine the danger of interference. The PNT will then report its conclusions to the FCC. LightSquared also contends that only 14 of the 93 GPS receivers tested were affected by the LTE network. LightSquared’s network is scheduled to undergo another round of testing in January, after which the FCC will make a final decision on the proposed LTE network.
