May 22, 2020

Satellite operator Iridium and manufacturer Lockheed Martin have joined several private industry groups in signing a petition asking the FCC  to reconsider its recent order to allow Ligado Networks to rezone and resell its L-band satellite spectrum holdings for 5G terrestrial use.

Other petitioners include: the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA); the Airline Pilots Association; the Association of Equipment Manufacturers; the Cargo Airline Association; the International Air Transport Association; Airlines for America; Trimble; and the RNT Foundation.

The petitioners allege that the FCC ignored evidence and technical analyses that they submitted, showing, “harmful interference” with GPS signals and relied instead on, “easily disproven claims that Ligado will provide a so-called 5G service,” the petitioners said in a statement issued May 21. “L-band is not included in any internationally-recognized 5G standard, the spectrum is not harmonized regionally or globally for 5G, FCC’s 5G FAST Plan does not include Ligado or L-Band spectrum nor does the company have enough contiguous spectrum.”

Read the full story at Via Satellite.