[Satellite TODAY 10-08-10] Qualcomm is collaborating with integrated wireless broadband and satellite network wholesaler LightSquared to integrating L-Band LTE technology in its mainstream chipset roadmap, the company announced Oct. 7.
    The collaboration will build off Qualcomm’s Enhanced Geostationary Air Link (EGAL) satellite air interface technology, which enables the satellite mode of operation in mobile devices. Qualcomm will add L-Band LTE and EGAL to standard Qualcomm products, including its MDM9600 multi-mode solution chipset.
    “Device manufacturers will be able to use our latest MDM9600 chipsets to create integrated cellular-satellite products that are similar to today’s typical mobile devices in terms of size, capabilities and build costs,” Peggy Johnson, Qualcomm’s executive vice president of the Americas and India, said in a statement.
    Separately, LightSquared confirmed that both the Nokia Siemens Networks and LightSquared boards recently approved the eight-year, $7 billion agreement announced in July for Nokia Siemens Networks to deploy, install, operate and maintain LightSquared’s network.
    The network is expected to be comprise about 40,000 cellular base stations, covering 92 percent of the U.S. population by the end of 2015. LightSquared and Nokia have begun initial operations to build the network, including site acquisitions and the development of LTE base station equipment.