RNT Foundation Continues to Raise Ligado Concerns
Spectrum designated for 5G is far enough away from spectrum used for global navigation satellite systems, but Ligado's proposed broadband terrestrial low-power service in an adjacent band clearly is a threat to GPS and other satellite navigation services, the Resilient…
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Navigation and Timing Foundation (RNTF) said in an FCC docket 11-109 filing Thursday. It said interference with precision aviation applications is a particular concern. It said the only technical reports that back the Ligado-sought waivers were narrow and paid for by the satellite operator. It said a Ligado offer to compensate the government for harm to its users wouldn't make up for the loss of mission, especially for the military and first responders, and the biggest potential harm isn't to government users but civil ones. RNTF has raised red flags about Ligado plans (see 1810190010). Ligado emailed there's "absolutely no evidence anywhere that Ligado’s proposal will cause harmful interference to GPS receivers" and that GPS manufacturers "are on the record in this proceeding acknowledging coexistence is possible, and the science and data support that fact." Just because the author chooses to point out the current flaws in GPS -- flaws that are only exacerbated by poorly designed receivers -- does not change that fact," it said.