LightSquared, a 4G LTE wireless broadband network provider has entered into a strategic partnership with PCTEL, an antenna solutions developer to provide enhanced services and resolve issues concerning high precision GPS-based receivers.
The antenna developed in collaboration with PCTEL offers various solutions to their GPS customers to make their high-precision equipment compatible with LightSquared network services. The antenna solution from PCTEL is capable of addressing a variety of applications in the aviation, agriculture, construction and public safety sectors. The antenna will undergo testing with various receivers at the Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs located in Murray Hill, New Jersey.
The Executive Vice President of the satellite business and ecosystem development at LightSquared, Martin Harriman stated that the antenna solutions have been designed to solve various interference issues that were deemed unsolvable earlier. Furthermore, the wireband antenna will offer solutions to thousands of device users. The Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing at PCTEL added that the two companies worked closely to design the narrowband solution and will provide positioning solution to high-precision users.
PCTEL and LightSquared have developed the interference solution despite popular market claims that the production process for such a product will be very expensive and will take several years. Other companies have also collaborated with LightSquared in the past to develop a GPS interference solution. Earlier Javad GNSS, a GPS device manufacturer had announced the design of antennas that could be retrofitted with existing devices and also announced the development of LightSquared-compatible devices. Patron America had collaborated with LightSquared to create low-cost filtering components.