February 10, 2016
Today marks the launch of Ligado Networks, a new brand that signals the company’s future vision of deploying its mid-band spectrum to deliver next-generation connectivity while also conveying the company’s heritage as a network service operator providing satellite connectivity throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The launch of the new brand is a tremendous step forward for the predecessor company called LightSquared. In discussing the transition to the new brand, chief executive officer Doug Smith explained the company’s efforts to turn the page since emerging from bankruptcy last year. “This is a really exciting time for the new company, and we remain committed to making continued progress with all stakeholders in a cooperative way. Our new brand speaks to that new focus on connectedness, and our new vision is to utilize mid-band spectrum in order to accelerate the delivery of advanced technology and next-generation mobile networks.
“Ligado means being connected and ready to go,” Smith noted. “As our lives become more mobile in an increasingly connected world, the Ligado Networks brand underscores our mission to provide the mobile connections that support a growing variety of emerging applications.”
Smith and Ligado’s Board of Directors, which is chaired by former Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, envision the company’s mid-band spectrum as a catalyst for continued innovation and advancement in mobile connectivity. Smith pointed out, “As an example, when we look at the Internet of Things, it’s not just Things; the real keys to success are the connections between those Things as well as the quality of that connectivity. In order to accelerate delivery of innovative services in such verticals as healthcare, automotive, industrial, shipping, home, and municipal sectors and to more broadly fulfill the promise of next-generation mobile networks, more mid-band spectrum is needed. Mid-band spectrum is part of the solution to deliver ultra-reliable, highly-secure, and capacity-rich connectivity.
“We’re all about connectivity, and we are working with industry and government stakeholders to increase the supply of available spectrum,” Smith continued. “This work represents a critical and first step toward our company’s efforts to bring next-generation connectivity to market. More spectrum for mobile broadband will continue to drive future investment in network infrastructure and support increasing levels of innovation that have been the hallmark of U.S. global leadership in wireless.”
Over the coming months, Ligado Networks is focused on making continued progress with industry and government stakeholders to advance the regulatory process for bringing its mid-band spectrum to market. The company recently filed a comprehensive plan with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking public comment on technical co-existence agreements reached with several GPS companies and requesting the FCC’s consideration of the company’s proposal to bring more mid-band spectrum to market for mobile broadband use.
