LightSquared, which is in the process of creating a 4G-LTE wireless network across the US, has been collaborating with various manufacturers of GPS devices to develop an efficient and cost effective solution for the GPS interference issue.
Previously, when the company presented the idea of building a 4G-LTE wireless network across the country, objections were raised by various government and military organisations that this will create interferences in current GPS devices that are being used by them. Based on these objections, the Federal Communications Council (FCC) had ordered that LightSquared can only build the network if they can ensure that there would be no GPS interference.
As part of their efforts towards this end, LightSquared invited many GPS device manufactures to come up with solutions that are compatible with LightSquared components. Javad GNSS has built GPS receivers that are compatible with LightSquared, Patron America has invented a new filtering component costing $6 and PCTEL has come up with chip sets that are compatible with LightSquared. Apart from these inventions, LightSquared itself has moved to a new spectrum with an investment of $100 million, thus bringing an immediate solution to most GPS devices. Additionally it has invested $9 million for developing filters which ensure that the GPS licensed spectrum remained separate from its own spectrum. The company has also invested $50 million to replace the existing GPS devices used by federal agencies.
The solutions that have been invented by various GPS device manufacturers will undergo rigorous testing by FCC and NTIA in the near future. LightSquared intends to build the 4G-LTE wireless network by the year 2015.
Source: http://www.lightsquared.com