A broad coalition of aviation, satellite and technology groups is pressing the White House and Congress to block Ligado Networks’ new partnership with AST SpaceMobile and reverse the Federal Communications Commission’s 2020 approval of the company’s controversial terrestrial network plans in the L-band spectrum.
The Satellite Safety Alliance, which includes more than 90 organizations such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, Garmin GRMN 0.00%↑, Iridium IRDM 0.00%↑, Trimble TRMB 0.00%↑ and meteorological groups, sent letters in early May 2026 warning that Ligado’s shift to a 96-satellite non-geostationary orbit constellation raises fresh interference risks to GPS and other critical L-band services.
In 2020, the FCC approved Ligado’s plan to build a terrestrial 5G network using L-band spectrum adjacent to GPS frequencies, despite strong opposition from the aviation, defense and satellite industries over potential interference. The order included conditions requiring Ligado to deploy commercial devices, including IoT solutions, by deadlines such as September 2024. The company has struggled to meet several of those milestones.
Ligado now appears to be pivoting away from its original terrestrial focus toward a satellite-based direct-to-device service through its partnership with AST SpaceMobile. The coalition argues this evolution further demonstrates Ligado’s inability to comply with the 2020 order while still failing to provide adequate technical data on interference risks to existing L-band operators.
The alliance maintains that Ligado’s proposals continue to threaten billions of dollars in GPS and satellite infrastructure investments. It is calling for the FCC to revisit and ultimately reverse the 2020 order to protect aviation safety, weather services, precision agriculture and other critical applications that rely on uninterrupted L-band spectrum performance.
Lisa Dyer, executive director of the GPS Innovation Alliance, which filed comments and reply comments, said that the modified Ligado application lacked detailed technical information for companies to evaluate potential harmful interference, particularly impacts on GPS user equipment.
“The technical information submitted in Ligado’s modification application is very limited and does not permit a detailed assessment of the potential impacts, including potential harmful interference to products and services of GPSIA members that enable critical PNT activities,” Dyer said. “Nonetheless, GPSIA is fully committed to working with Ligado and AST to develop an adequate record for Commission consideration of Ligado’s proposal. In fact, GPSIA and its members are engaged in constructive discussions with Ligado and AST, which are at a very early stage.”
