The next evolution in chaser data?

[David Drummond]

LightSquared said Wednesday it has received approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to build its planned satellite-LTE network for nationwide mobile service.

The company, which plans to launch its service commercially in the second half of this year, will offer both a satellite and a land-based LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network. Working with Qualcomm, it also plans to make sure that single handsets to use both networks are available. With the satellite coverage included, LightSquared said it will offer universal broadband anywhere in the U.S.

I'll certainly be watching this anxiously to see how it pans out!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20110127/tc_pcworld/lightsquaredwinsfccokforltesatellitenetwork

 

[Matt Tottle]

Sounds very cool, but I can see the satellite part being really expensive. Iridium is still priced way out of reach of your average Joe (a grand for the phone + up to $3 a minute), and that's been around for over a decade.

 

[Skip Talbot]

The day we get stable, cheap, nationwide broadband is the day that techno chasing will be revolutionized. We'll be chasing with level 2 data in North Dakota, while watching each other's high definition streams, probably all from a smart phone.

From LightWSquared's website:

Among the largest and most powerful commercial satellites ever launched, this space-based network will provide coverage to users when they are out of cellular range. LightSquared’s next generation satellite with its 22-meter-diameter reflector will allow for connectivity to mobile devices without penalizing form factor, battery life, or performance.

They are selling the service to major cellular and cable companies, so it sounds like this is ultimately meant for consumer consumption. Your 2012 or 2013 Android phone from Verizon might never lose its data signal.

 

[Jacob Ferden]

The day we get stable, cheap, nationwide broadband is the day that techno chasing will be revolutionized. We'll be chasing with level 2 data in North Dakota, while watching each other's high definition streams, probably all from a smart phone.

From LightWSquared's website:


They are selling the service to major cellular and cable companies, so it sounds like this is ultimately meant for consumer consumption. Your 2012 or 2013 Android phone from Verizon might never lose its data signal.

The problem is the cost. Satellite is ungodly expensive at the moment (i.e. a Sat Phone is over $1000). So any Android that comes out with it will (probably) cost much, much, much more than a regular one.

 

[Skip Talbot]

I don't doubt this tech will be expensive when its first released, but any ideas on what this LightSquared service will eventually cost the consumer? This is new technology, on a new satellite. I was hoping this would service would eventually be cheaper than current options. It has to be if LightSquared is planning on selling this to the cellular companies for consumer use.

 

[David Drummond]

This is a whole new type of setup, capable of handling MUCH more bandwidth than current satellite solutions. I suspect the end cost will not be terribly more than current datacard costs. Reading over their website, they plan on licensing this out to many resellers, which will induce competition, which they specifically say they want. No doubt there will be deals to be had on launch as well.

 

[Matt Tottle]

This is a whole new type of setup, capable of handling MUCH more bandwidth than current satellite solutions. I suspect the end cost will not be terribly more than current datacard costs. Reading over their website, they plan on licensing this out to many resellers, which will induce competition, which they specifically say they want. No doubt there will be deals to be had on launch as well.

Yeah when you are on the terrestrial network. But when you are in Indian country and it flips to satellite operation (the equivalent of roaming), watch out. There also seems to be an issue where the signal they use at a power high enough to be effective, could swamp the GPS signal.

I'm definitely keeping an eye on it too (it might be a company to buy into), but I really don't hold high hopes for it at this time. Building infrastructure from the ground up takes lots of time, especially with NIMBYs fighting you tooth and nail. Sprint's been at it for 15 years and look how big the holes in their coverage are. AT&T isn't much better and they've been at it longer. Verizon's is the most solid, but still has holes, and it took them 25 years plus billions of dollars in acquisitions.

 

[Darren Addy]

]

LightSquared will build out its own nationwide wireless network of base stations.

Doh! At least to build a satellite network you don't have to negotiate any land use rights.

Sounds like a company fishing for Google to buy 'em. Might work, too.

 

[Scott Weberpal]

I'm curious to see how this revolutionized satellite LTE will handle upstream speeds. Most at home satellite internet system upstream data is generally less than 300kbps. Obviously it is much easier for satellite to transmit data to earth than it is for an earth-based satellite dish on your roof (or a card attached to your computer) to transmit to a satellite.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they can maximize upstream speeds with satellite internet, but not holding my breath.

 

[Jason Foster]

And yes....if your a looking to make money....it's more about upload than download isn't.