Broadband wireless access solution provider Airspan has been selected by LightSquared to market LightSquared’s 1.4 GHz wireless spectrum. Airspan announced yesterday that it  will market the 1.4 GHz wireless backhaul solution, including spectrum, equipment and services for Smart Grid applications in the electric, gas and water utility sectors in the United States.

"The combination of equipment and licensed spectrum eliminates the problem of relying on interference susceptible shared frequencies for missioncritical applications," said Paul Senior, Chief Technical Officer, Airspan Networks Inc.

The 1.4 GHz licensed spectrum will be managed by Airspan and will be made available to utilities in their distinct geographic markets. Access to this spectrum will enable utilities to establish optimized proprietary grid management networks. These Smart Grid communications networks are necessary to realize the economic and operational benefits from load-balancing, dynamic response, automation and the other grid-optimization benefits of Smart Grid initiatives.

“This initiative is consistent with our goal of enabling improved spectrum use with an open, wholesale business model. Our smart grid partnership with Airspan complements our plans to establish a nationwide mobile broadband network,” said Frank Boulben, chief marketing officer for LightSquared. 

Last month Harbinger Capital's venture LightSquared had awarded eight-year, $7 billion contract to Nokia Siemens Networks to build and operate a LTE network for wireless providers and other businesses.