Satellite/terrestrial venture LightSquared is in discussions
with over 60 companies to use its LTE network, its CEO Sanjiv
Ahuja has been quoted saying. Of these, 15 are at the stage of
negotiating contracts.
Ahuja said that LightSquared was targeting…
Satellite/terrestrial venture LightSquared is in discussions
with over 60 companies to use its LTE network, its CEO Sanjiv
Ahuja has been quoted saying. Of these, 15 are at the stage of
negotiating contracts.
Ahuja said that LightSquared was targeting wholesale deals
with mobile and fixed-line telcos, as well as retailers and cable
operators.
Unconfirmed reports in March suggested that LightSquared
was considering partnerships with cellco Sprint Nextel and
media giant Time Warner Cable.
LightSquared is in the process of rolling out its nationwide
LTE network. In March, the company announced a series of
confirmed partnerships.
Open Range partnership
On 11 March, a network partnership was signed with rural
wireless provider Open Range.
LightSquared said that this would include a wholesale
agreement whereby Open Range can sell LightSquared’s
satellite capacity to its customers.
It may also include a nationwide 4G roaming arrangement
and a licensing agreement enabling Open Range to lease Lband
spectrum owned by LightSquared.
The agreement is still subject to certain definitive agreements
being implemented and to FCC approval.
4G roaming with Leap
On 22 March, a new 4G roaming agreement with wireless
carrier Leap Wireless was announced.
Under the deal, Leap’s operating subsidiary, Cricket
Communications, will be able to supplement its own LTE
coverage with LTE roaming services from LightSquared.
Leap’s president and CEO, Doug Hutcheson, said the firm
was planning to begin deploying its own LTE network this year.
MVNO with Best Buy
On 23 March, LightSquared announced a new agreement
with electronics retailer Best Buy, which will gain a 4G MVNO
running on LightSquared’s network.
LightSquared said that it is targeting a trial in Q1 2012.
The following week, Best Buy announced plans to resell
Clearwire’s 4G services on more than 20 devices sold at its
stores
