Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Light at the end of the tunnel for LightSquared

Breaking news -- there may be some good news for LightSquared...if one can believe what's popping up on the net.

Let's hope it's true, even though it's unclear at this point what LightSquared's final business position will be -- additional competition in the market, more infrastructure on the ground (and in space) and bigger data pipes for service providers to use can't be bad!

I guess the question remains, how do you pick a deployment back up that was placed on hold on a nationwide basis...and one might expect that resurrection will cost some time and money to overcome.  We'll see -- hopefully the schedule LightSquared is held to by the FCC will be realistically ammended.

RES

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Public Safety moving to LTE

It's nice to see the US moving forward when it comes to technology and emergency response communications...

I can remember back in the day, right after the Columbine shooting, thinking how great it would be if emergency responders were able to have video and audio intelligence at the incident site -- and how that might save lives and quicken the resolution of tragedies.  If emergency response is able to send and receive data on scene -- and use it for voice and imagery, for intel gathering as well as command and control -- we're a short step away from being able to interface them with security systems that are installed in the site itself.  That pairing, in a wireless/mobile format, will provide them with real-time, on-site intel about the site and the incident that will make a huge difference in response and effectiveness.

When that data capability is then distributed from incident command to the guys on the front line -- there'll be real power in that information, as boots on the ground will then be able to immediately respond to changing conditions at the scene, while collaborating with incident command.  It will make a huge difference when emergency response arrives at the scene during an incident, as well as coordinating the response and resolution after the event.

RES

Sunday, January 23, 2011

LightSquared's Future? -- Reply Hazy, Try Again...

It's looking like LightSquared will be needing some special flexibility from the FCC in order to move ahead, and depending on the outcome of a rather expensive interference study, may have a tough time getting on its feet.  This is unfortunate news, as the company could develop into a significant player in the industry, offering additional competition for existing providers.

The company has a satellite in space, with reported plans to launch another -- however, the business model seems to be shifting.  The request to the FCC to allow them to build terrestrial infrastructure and deploy phones that don't have the ability to communicate with their satellite may be an effort to attract a business partner and some capital.  It's no secret that the funding source for the effort has suffered downturns, and the longer it takes LightSquared to deploy and service markets the more expensive the venture's going to get.

On the ground in Phoenix, the project is on indefinite hold, and other markets also seem to be in limbo.  Interference concerns from the NTIA and others, as well as other issues, could interfere with LightSquared's ability to meet the timeline the FCC has required for them to service a given number of customers.

We're hopeful LightSquared will find a way to persevere, and we're confident the additional infrastructure as well as competition will be healthy for the market -- the question is, will existing regulation and the market allow it to materialize...?  The magic 8 Ball says, "Reply Hazy, Try Again..."

RES

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Back, after a Limited Engagement Elsewhere...

After a limited appearance in Wilmington NC, and a brief detour-sabbatical in the private educational sector, Anvil Partners, LLC has re-launched to debut out west in the Phoenix MSA.

Offering support for wireless communications infrastructure, with a particular focus on local regulations and permitting, Anvil Partners will be providing the assistance folks need to tackle those issues that get in the way of improving wireless communications infrastructure.

This blog -- The Wireless Forge -- should be an entertaining and educational space for us to examine the sparks often scattered when private communications infrastructure and local regulation don't blend nicely.  Sometimes it takes a hammer, some heat, a little noise and some sweat...