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LightSquared Disrupts 75% of GPS Reveals US Government Report

by Ravi Mandalia, 12 Dec, 2011 News

In a draft summary of results of a US government test, it was revealed that LightSquared Inc. wireless service promoted by Philip Falcone has interfered in around 75 percent of global-positioning system receivers.

The test was conducted from 31st October to 4th November which displays that "millions of fielded GPS units are not compatible with the planned nationwide wholesale service", reported  Bloomberg.

A meeting of US officials will be held next week to review the proposal made by LightSquared and the draft has been prepared for the meeting which says "LightSquared signals caused harmful interference to majority of GPS receivers tested." The draft also mentions "No additional testing is required to confirm harmful interference exists."

The LightSquared proposal has been financed by $3 billion of funds from Falcone's Harbinger Capital Partners hedge fund. However, the global-positioning system device makers are claiming that it will be disrupting navigation by boats, planes, cars and tractors and due to these claims of interference the regulators in US are withholding their approvals.

Executive vice president at LightSquared, Martin Harriman, in an interview said that the company will be operating in lower power than the amount of power used during the government test and Harriman, firmly, believes that this move will affect around 10 percent of devices.

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