Dish Networks’ attempt to enter the mobile communications space received somewhat of a boost as it announced Qualcomm would enable chip-level support for potential devices designed to work across Dish’s satellite and terrestrial-based network plans.
Dish reported that the chip support would come in the form of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 platform, which is a dual-core processor with an integrated 3G/LTE modem. The satellite support is based on Qualcomm’s Enhanced Geostationary Air Link technology.
Qualcomm is a significant source of chipsets powering the current smartphone boom as well as the wireless industry’s move to LTE technology. The chip giant earlier this year announced support for Clearwire’s plans to rollout LTE technology across its 2.5 GHz spectrum assets.
Dish Networks’ plans to launch a cellular network are currently in the hands of the Federal Communications Commission, which is looking at instituting rules that would allow Dish to use its 2 GHz spectrum assets for a terrestrial network. Dish is already approved to use its spectrum for satellite-based communications, and earlier this year closed on an acquisition of BDSD North America that helped Dish secure 40 megahertz of nationwide spectrum in the 2 GHz band.
The FCC stumbled in its previous attempt to open up satellite-based spectrum assets for terrestrial use in the case of LightSquared, which was recently forced to file for bankruptcy protection after it was unable to garner access to its 1.6 GHz spectrum assets due to interference issues with some ground-based GPS systems.
It should be noted that chipset report is no guarantee that those network plans will move forward as LightSquared said at one point it was providing $50 million to Qualcomm to help fund development of chipsets to support its network plans.
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