Comments on: Is 4G Via Satellite Destined to Fail?

By: Nokia Siemens Networks Wins $7B Contract to Build Harbinger’s LTE Network

Nokia Siemens Networks Wins $7B Contract to Build Harbinger’s LTE Network — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:46:36 +0000

[...] history of satellite companies is littered with bankruptcies and near-bankruptcies, and financing the costs of building out a terrestrial and satellite network [...]

By: Report: Harbinger Hires Orange Exec To Run Proposed LTE Network

Report: Harbinger Hires Orange Exec To Run Proposed LTE Network — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:43:10 +0000

[...] at the helm. One of the biggest hurdles for Harbinger is the perception of satellite wireless as a money pit with a history of failure: the 1990s saw two companies — Iridium and GlobalStar — soak up billions of dollars [...]

By: Cue the “Mission Impossible” Theme for Harbinger’s LTE Plans | Mobiles Review

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:36:44 +0000

[...] of enabling satellite firms to offer some competition for wireless broadband. It’s been a tough slog for those firms, and the FCC order issued Friday night allowing Harbinger to take complete control over SkyTerra [...]

By: AT&T Asks FCC to Change Its Mind Over Harbinger

AT&T Asks FCC to Change Its Mind Over Harbinger — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:02:13 +0000

[...] network. The satellite requirement has kept most of the MSS spectrum owners from building out an actual competitive mobile broadband network, but Harbinger apparently thinks the time is [...]

By: PE Firm Plans Open LTE Network To Challenge AT&T and Verizon

PE Firm Plans Open LTE Network To Challenge AT&T and Verizon — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 02:36:44 +0000

[...] carriers, but the stringent satellite requirement (that the cell companies lobbied hard for) has proved tough. It’s expensive to launch and build satellites (plus build out a terrestrial network), and [...]

By: FCC’s Broadband Plan: Mobile Broadband Will Save Us! – GigaOM

FCC’s Broadband Plan: Mobile Broadband Will Save Us! – GigaOM — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:24:31 +0000

[...] this band because they’ve promised to build a combination satellite-and-terrestrial network. So far they’ve failed to make good on that promise, and I have huge doubts that they ever will. The FCC appears to be [...]

By: Satellite Cos. Pitch Their Spectrum to the FCC and Eventually Carriers

Satellite Cos. Pitch Their Spectrum to the FCC and Eventually Carriers — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:01:50 +0000

[...] the cost of launching a satellite, and a lack of partners to help offset the price of a terrestrial network, means that for now, there are satellites but no terrestrial component. Another issue is the [...]

By: TerreStar’s Upcoming Genus Smartphone: Too Slow to Be Genius

TerreStar’s Upcoming Genus Smartphone: Too Slow to Be Genius — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:03:25 +0000

[...] and service in remote areas). However, after spending millions to launch new birds and with hopes of launching an expansive satellite and terrestrial-based voice and data network, TerreStar will need to take its phones and service beyond niche markets. With faster speeds and [...]

By: Today the Stars Aligned for Satellite Cos

Today the Stars Aligned for Satellite Cos — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:55:46 +0000

[...] delays. We’ve written about the capabilities of TerreStar’s new bird, as well as our doubts about the business of providing satellite data services to a consumer audience as TerreStar hopes to do. TerreStar-1 will be able to deliver speeds of [...]

By: The Ominous Return of the Satellite Phone

The Ominous Return of the Satellite Phone — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:51:27 +0000

[...] that’s an uncertain project, so in the meantime, TerreStar will offer handsets to consumers and governments through a [...]

By: Satellite Player Skyterra Ready to Try Again

Satellite Player Skyterra Ready to Try Again — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:04:17 +0000

[...] satellite phones (and service) have been niche products, and the companies providing service have a tumultuous history of investment and bankruptcy. But Chris Gates, vice president of strategy with Skyterra, says this [...]

By: Why There Won’t Be Broadband Competition Anytime Soon - GigaOM

Why There Won’t Be Broadband Competition Anytime Soon - GigaOM — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:54:26 +0000

[...] of an alternative network, as it’s doing in the case of M2Z, and did all the way back in 2003 when it waffled over approving the ATC rules that allow a satellite company to offer both terrestrial and satellite coverage. That was supposed [...]

By: Qualcomm Marries Satellite and Cellular Networks - GigaOM

Qualcomm Marries Satellite and Cellular Networks - GigaOM — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:01:23 +0000

[...] really surmounted because handsets were big and couldn’t switch over to cell networks. It looked like that would be the case again for a new generation of satellite firms pushing a combined terrestrial and satellite network. [...]

By: Truly Ubiquitous Broadband is Getting Closer - GigaOM

Truly Ubiquitous Broadband is Getting Closer - GigaOM — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:30:36 +0000

[...] that plans to operate a combined terrestrial and satellite network, would use the phone, but since Terrestar was experiencing financial and management problems, few industry watchers got [...]

By: PE Firm Pushing for Inmarsat/Skyterra Combo - GigaOM

PE Firm Pushing for Inmarsat/Skyterra Combo - GigaOM — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:03:39 +0000

[...] such mergers back in March after looking at the number of players trying to make it in the difficult satellite services business, as well as the likelihood of U.S. regulators approving the Sirius-XM merger, which took another [...]

By: Comcast Is Serious About Wireless - GigaOM

Comcast Is Serious About Wireless - GigaOM — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:37:12 +0000

[...] way of offering wireless. A WiMAX joint venture, a buyout of Sprint or T-Mobile, or perhaps some crazy satellite scheme could justify the creation of wireless division at [...]