Company still faces opponents

Just one week after a leaked draft of a government report pointed to ongoing interference problems with LightSquared's network, the US Department of Defense and Department of Transportation have issued a joint statement echoing the concerns. The agencies claim the network will not interfere with cellphones, however it has demonstrated "harmful interference to the majority of other tested general purpose GPS receivers."

The departments have also expanded the list of existing concerns, claiming the network will also cause problems with ground-proximity warning systems that are used by aircraft to help prevent collisions with terrain.

LightSquared continues to downplay the claims, as CEO Sanjiv Ahuja argues the problems are caused by GPS equipment that lacks the necessary filters to block transmissions on spectrum that the company has licensed. Opponents suggest it is unrealistic to demand upgrades or replacements for the widespread equipment already on the market for civilian, commercial and military purposes.

"It is clear that LightSquared simply refuses to accept the overwhelming technical evidence on the interference issue and continues to try to 'define away' devastating test results," said Dale Leibach, spokesman for the Coalition to Save Our GPS, as quoted by Reuters.

LightSquared suggests it is continuing to work with groups and government agencies to find a resolution to the ongoing dispute.

By Electronista Staff

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industry, GPS, Department of Transportation, government, Department of Defense, LightSquared