The Delaware bankruptcy court will rule today [September 22nd] on the transfer of spectrum from Ligado Networks and related businesses to AST SpaceMobile. The ruling is not unexpected because the deal was agreed in June.

The hearing, before Judge Thomas Horan, will sign-off the pre-agreed resolution which sees AST pay $550 million (of which $535 million will go to Viasat/Inmarsat to settle the Viasat claims against Ligado). Ligado Networks sued Inmarsat in 2007 over alleged breaches of contract between the pair.

The agreement will also a formal end of Ligado’s bankruptcy reconstruction. As part of Ligado’s restructuring, Inmarsat will support AST SpaceMobile receiving long-term spectrum usage rights for 80+ years to up to 40 MHz of L-Band MSS spectrum in the US and Canada held by Ligado, plus access to an additional 5 MHz in the 1670-1675 MHz Band in the US.

Combined with cellular spectrum from partners AT&T and Verizon, AST said the frequencies would support broadband speeds of up to 120 megabits/second for unmodified smartphones beyond the reach of terrestrial networks across the US. In addition, Inmarsat agrees to provide its affirmative support of AST SpaceMobile’s planned regulatory applications with the FCC in the US and Canadian regulators seeking authority to operate a Non-GSO system within the L-Band mid-band spectrum over North America.

AST’s obligation to begin making spectrum access usage payments to Ligado will begin on September 30th.

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Categories: Articles, Policy, Regulation, Satellite

Tags: AST SpaceMobile, Ligado