New 4G Cell-Phone Networks May Jam GPS Signals; If This is True, They Need to Delay 4G Until This Problem is Resolved

As an avid GPS user, I’m very concerned about reports that some of the 4G network frequencies that are being looked at for use are too close to Global Positioning System (GPS) frequencies, and that the GPS signals might be jammed.

We need GPS more than we need 4G at this stage.   GPS is “critical need” and 4G is still in the “nice to have” category, in my estimation.

Commercial air traffic, ground-based delivery trucks, emergency responders and other critical agencies use GPS to get to their intended destinations, not to mention millions of families and individuals who navigate all over the place using GPS for critical and non-critical travel.

I think that if they just move some of the frequencies further apart that will take care of the issue.  The frequency being proposed for use by LightSquared is in the 1525MHz-1559MHz range, while GPS kicks on at 1559Mhz-1610MHz.  Cell phone towers send out their signals which are orders of magnitude stronger than the incoming satellite signals.

A recent test by Garmin showed that the GPS signal was lost after they sent a GPS unit into an area where a 4G signal was active on the proposed frequency.  At various ranges, the GPS unit was way off its target, then lost the signal completely when it was in proximity to the test transmitter.

Is this problem limited to ground-based GPS units, or will it affect commercial airliners, military aircraft and other kinds of aircraft that rely on GPS?  What about enhanced 9-11 systems?

LightSquared, Garmin, and other experts in the GPS and cell phone fields are looking at the problem.  Hope they solve the issue quickly.