Falcone’s LightSquared Has Accords With Five Customers

Billionaire Philip Falcone’s LightSquared Inc. wireless venture has agreements with five customers to provide wholesale fourth-generation service, the company’s chief marketing officer said.

LightSquared has contracts with a national retailer, a device manufacturer, one website, and two carriers. LightSquared is seeking to compete with AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless and Clearwire Corp. in providing 4G wireless service. Under a Federal Communications Commission order, the company has to build a network that covers up to 100 million Americans by the end of 2012 and 260 million by 2016. The service provider will begin network trials this year in Las Vegas, Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix after completing testing in a lab in the Dallas area, Boulben said. LightSquared is also in discussions with some carriers to share network equipment, he said. LightSquared last month received a waiver from the FCC that lifts a requirement that devices using its service communicate directly with satellites. The FCC said LightSquared must participate in a working group with makers and users of global- positioning systems to ensure its service doesn't interfere with those communications. Boulben said he was confident LightSquared would resolve any concerns about GPS interference, including possibly using filters on its cell sites. Groups such as Motorola Solutions Inc., the Department of Commerce and some small aircraft manufacturers have expressed concern that LightSquared’s service may cause interfere with GPS and emergency communications.