[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-16-10] LightSquared sees the launch of SkyTerra-1 as a major step in combining satellite systems and 4G-LTE terrestrial networks and a peek into the future of the North American consumer market.
    Launched Nov. 15 by International Launch Services (ILS) on a Proton Breeze M vehicle from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome, SkyTerra-1 sent its first signals nine hours after separating from the launch vehicle, kicking off its mission to expand the level of coverage throughout the United States. LightSqured, created in March when Harbinger Capital acquired SkyTerra, is working with Nokia Siemens Networks to build and operate a 4G-LTE satellite and mobile broadband network for wireless providers.
     “SkyTerra-1 is a key asset,” , spokesman Tom Surface told Satellite TODAY Insider. “It holds the advantage in several areas. It has more power, more capacity and more capability than satellites that have been launched up to this point. The satellite’s spot beams are also state-of-the-art and can be moved to cover different parts of a region. It can have more than 500 spot beams working at the same time.”
     The satellite, based on Boeing’s 702 high-power platform model, was designed with SkyTerra’s service development strategy in mind. The satellite’s L-band reflector-based antenna is 22-meters long — the largest commercial antenna reflector to be put into service, according to SkyTerra. This development strategy focused on key technology partnerships to ensure that it would be able to support a wide range of new capabilities when the satellite was launched.
     A three-month technology partnership effort began in April 2009, when Wireless Matrix signed a contract with SkyTerra to provide a migration path for satellite data communication services via SkyTerra’s next-generation satellite network through 2012. After the deal was signed, SkyTerra said integrating its satellite data services with cellular data service via its proprietary modems provided a key differentiator for Wireless Matrix’s vehicle management solutions.
     In May 2009, SkyTerra’s Chief Network Officer Drew Caplan developed a partnership with Infineon Technologies and TerreStar to roll out a multi-standard mobile platform based on Infineon’s software-defined radio technology, which aims to enable ubiquitous mobile communications coverage from anywhere in North America using mass-market devices with similar prices compared to terrestrial cellular-only devices. The chipset platform was part of an additional handset trial for performance on a 4G network. “We anticipate that this [software-defined radio] chipset agreement will expand our market opportunities as well as the range of technologies and potential devices that will be satellite-terrestrial capable,” Caplan said in a statement.

Related Stories-

LightSquared Adds $850 Million in Financing; Accelerates Inmarsat Capacity Deal    Satellite Today   October 5, 2010
[Satellite TODAY Insider 10-05-10] LightSquared has acquired an $850 million credit facility from UBS AG and will accelerate its capacity lease deal with Inmarsat to begin by the end of this year, LightSquared announced Oct. 4. LightSquared…

MetroPCS Leads the United States into the LTE Era    Satellite News   September 21, 2010
[Satellite News 09-21-10] MetroPCS has launched the United States first 4G LTE-enabled network in Las Vegas with Samsung s multi-mode, CDMA Craft handset signed on to support the service, MetroPCS announced Sept. 21. Analysts hailed the…

LightSquared Triggers Agreement With Inmarsat to Expand Spectrum    Satellite Today   August 19, 2010
[Satellite TODAY 08-18-10] LightSquared has triggered a cooperation agreement signed with Inmarsat more than two years ago to acquire spectrum for LightSquared s planned 4G-LTE satellite and mobile broadband network, the companies announced Aug…