LightSquared, which aims to launch the nation’s first, wholesale-only integrated 4G-LTE wireless broadband and satellite network, today announced that it has added regional carrier Cellular South to its list of partners.
The two companies have entered into a bilateral roaming agreement that will provide subscribers of Cellular South with a nationwide 4G-LTE footprint, as well as satellite coverage in rural areas where there is no terrestrial network. The agreement is reciprocal in that it will also expand LightSquared’s 4G data coverage to additional rural communities.
The Cellular South partnership follows on the announcements that LightSquared also will be partnering with Best Buy and Cricket Communications. Best Buy plans to offer LightSquared service through its recently unveiled Best Buy Connect brand.
While LightSquared looks to offer smaller regional carriers a chance at competitive coverage relative to Verizon Wireless and AT&T, not everyone is happy about the service.
Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) want the FCC to stop LightSquared from deploying its LTE network until it proves its service doesn’t interfere with GPS services.
The FCC has said it will not allow LightSquared to launch commercial services until the GPS interference issue is addressed.