A team of experts from satellite contractor Boeing and antenna builder Harris is scrambling to fully deploy the 22m antenna of LightSquared’s first spacecraft.
The satellite/terrestrial 4G-LTE venture’s SkyTerra-1 was launched on November 14 from the…
A team of experts from satellite contractor Boeing and antenna builder Harris is scrambling to fully deploy the 22m antenna of LightSquared’s first spacecraft.
The satellite/terrestrial 4G-LTE venture’s SkyTerra-1 was launched on November 14 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on an ILS Proton Breeze-M launch vehicle.
Other than a defective L-band antenna reflector, the bird is “stable and healthy”, according to a Boeing spokeswoman, who confirmed post-launch checks were still being carried out.
“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 spokeswoman added. She declined to give further details on the post-launch checks.
At 22m, Sky Terra 1’s antenna is the largest ever to be launched into commercial service.
Other large Harris-built antennas on spacecraft that have experienced similar problems include Asia Cellular Satellite’s 12m-diametre Garuda 1 bird, which was launched in 2000. A defect on the antenna has prevented the Asian operator’s use of all its capabilities.
The Eutelsat W2A’s 12m S-band antenna also suffered an anomaly shortly after launching in April 2009, inhibiting owner Solaris Mobile’s use of the bird.
The problems surrounding LightSquared’s antenna could see the venture miss an extended ATC milestone deadline with the FCC to commence the satellite’s operations by January 1, 2011.
LightSquared does have another satellite, SkyTerra-2, which is currently being manufacturer by Boeing and could be launched within a year. However, the Proton rockets it will use are currently being investigated by the Russian government to identify whether they were responsible for an abortive launch on December 5. The mission failure resulted in the loss of three satellites that were intended to complete Russia’s navigation constellation Glonass.
LightSquared was unable to add more information before going to press.
FCC extension cleared way for launch
Sky Terra-1 was launched just days after being granted an extension to its stringent milestone agreement with the FCC.
The venture faced having its ATC licence revoked until the FCC on 8 November decided to extend the deadline for the satellite’s launch and commencement of operations to January 1, 2011, from May 26, 2010.
“This launch of our next-generation satellite is a major step forward in our mandate to offer an integrated terrestrial-satellite service and is a critical element that will enable us to meet our commitment to the FCC to provide service that covers over 90% of the US population by the end of 2014,” LightSquared spokesman Tom Surface told SatelliteFinance.
The FCC extension – the second time LightSquared has been allowed to modify its regulatory commitments – led some industry observers to accuse the regulator of double standards given that Globalstar, another ATC licence holder, had a similar request denied just a few months earlier.
In rejecting Globalstar’s request for a 16-month extension to comply with the rules governing its licence, the operator’s spectrum leasing agreement with terrestrial rural broadband provider Open Range was effectively annulled.
Despite LightSquared’s deadline extension, the wireless broadband venture is still tied to an ambitious timetable. It has committed to covering at least 100 million people in the US by December 31, 2012, at least 145 million people by the end of December the following year, and at least 260 million people by December 31, 2015.
LightSquared’s second satellite, SkyTerra-2, is set to launch next year to complete its constellation, which will cover the United States in partnership with a terrestrial network to be built by Nokia Siemens Networks. The second bird will serve the FCC’s requirement to provide coverage redundancy for the integrated satellite-terrestrial service.
LightSquared requests further ATC modifications
Satellite/terrestrial 4G-LTE venture LightSquared is seeking to adjust the rules governing the group’s ATC licence to allow its wholesalers to offer terrestrial-only services.
The FCC granted SkyTerra, LightSquared’s predecessor, the ATC licence six years ago on the basis that it was to be used in conjunction with a fully integrated satellite/terrestrial network.
Submitting its revised business plan to the FCC on November 18, VP for regulatory affairs Jeffrey Carlisle insisted the venture will continue to offer a satellite-only or integrated service to retailers.
“Although LightSquared’s retailer customers will have the ability to offer terrestrial-only plans to their own end users, LightSquared will not provide any preferential terms for customers that offer such service,” Carlisle wrote.
“To the contrary, under LightSquared’s integrated pricing, customers acquiring terrestrial capacity from LightSquared will have to pay for the satellite capacity that comes with it, whether they use the satellite capacity or not.
“Moreover, LightSquared commits that it will not institute policies or practices that would discourage its customers from offering integrated MSS/ATC service.”
Speaking to SatelliteFinance, Carlisle said he was optimistic the FCC would move quickly to approve the updated business plan, dismissing the comments received in opposition so far as statutorily wrong. He said he was unable to offer an exact timeframe, but was encouraged by an accelerated application process from the FCC, which asked for comments no later than November 29 and replies no later than December 6.
Some industry observers have criticised the FCC, which on November 8 enabled the launch of LightSquared’s first satellite with a deadline extension, of double standards, given that ATC licence holder Globalstar has been denied similar regulatory adjustments in the past.
In related news, LightSquared is expected to trigger Phase 2 of a spectrum leasing agreement with Inmarsat before the end of the year. The move, which follows an agreement (Phase 1) earlier this year to increase the contiguous L-band spectrum of both parties, will see the satellite operator lease the venture some of its spectrum at a cost of US$115m per year.
It is understood that the aforementioned FCC application process will not conflict with plans to initiate Phase 2.
Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs reportedly plans to withdraw its entire US$120m investment in hedge fund Harbinger Capital Partners, LightSquared’s major backer, following a 16% decline in returns this year.
According to reports, Harbinger founder Philip Falcone is also being investigated for allegedly borrowing US$113m from one of its funds last year to pay personal taxes. It is claimed that Falcone’s transaction occurred during a time when investors were prevented from exiting the fund because its assets were linked to Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy.
Goldman Sachs did not return requests for comment.
