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LightSquared Files For Bankruptcy

Posted by Soulskill on from the can't-wait-for-the-new-conspiracy-theories dept.

fallen1 writes "Wireless broadband company LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy. In filings with U.S. Bankruptcy court, it was revealed that LightSquared had assets and debts of over $1 billion each. The decision followed a year-long fight between LightSqaured and GPS users — including some heavyweights like FedEx and UPS. Apparently Boeing and Alcatel-Lucent are heavily invested, but it would be interesting to see what the old Bell Labs could do with the technology."

7 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing to see here... by Defenestrar · · Score: 4, Informative

    This was decided way back at the final interference testing. This is merely formalizing the failure of the business.

  2. Ok, scratch that business plan... by busyqth · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Come up with profitable idea that violates the laws of physics
    2) Use political influence to get around the laws of physics
    3) PROFIT!

    ... well maybe not.

    1. Re:Ok, scratch that business plan... by Man+On+Pink+Corner · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Or it could be that the executive staff just received some of the worst engineering advice ever. High-power terrestrial transmissions anywhere near the GPS band are forbidden not only by US law but also by international treaty, for reasons that could have been explained if these clowns had bothered to ask any qualified RF engineer.

      Translating for the MBAs out there: "A lot of people who knew what they were doing agreed not to do stuff like this."

      Lack of due diligence on Falcone's part does not justify making exceptions to the laws the rest of us have to follow.

  3. Re:It's a shame this couldn't be mutually resolved by sjames · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Lightsquared wanted to provide wireless internet at a price (not give). They also wanted to do it on the cheap so they could make money hand over fist. They failed.

    Had they wanted to offer wireless at a fair price for a reasonable profit, they would have licensed spectrum appropriate for that application.

  4. Re:It's a shame this couldn't be mutually resolved by DeepLinux · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What?

    They purchased air to ground spectrum and tried to re-purpose it as ground to ground spectrum. They sued when the FCC told them to go take a running jump.

    Then tried to claim that GPS vendors were at fault for not having perfect notch filters in their equipment (hint such a thing is not physically possible)

  5. Re:It's a shame this couldn't be mutually resolved by bobbied · · Score: 5, Informative

    Did you miss the part in TFA where it explained that "LightSquared invested $4 billion in airwaves"? 4 Billion is still a lot of money, at least where I come from. I suppose for a nationwide network it probably pales in comparison to what AT&T or Verizon hold, but it is still a substantial investment. I wonder if the FCC will give them a refund on all those unused EM rays?

    Oh sure, 4$ billion is a lot of money. Problem here is Verizon, AT&T, Sprint etc spent even more for spectrum space allotted for high power use and Light Squared was trying to buy cheap spectrum and then get the rules changed. There was no way they could afford spectrum allotted for this kind of use and make their business model work. The licenses they have purchased can be sold to pay their creditors, but I don't think the FCC is going to give them a refund.

    Bye Bye Light Squared...

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  6. Re:It's a shame this couldn't be mutually resolved by busyqth · · Score: 5, Funny

    If there's one thing I've learned from management seminars, it's that "thinking outside the box" is a very powerful tool.
    In fact, since I've started applying this principle in my daily life I have been able to do all sorts of things that the average guy wouldn't think are possible, such as levitate, wall through walls, bend spoons with the force of my will, and build perfect notch filters.