Broadband wireless vendor Airspan Networks has emerged as a surprise first partner to resell spectrum from LightSquared, the proposed new wholesale LTE network in the US. Airspan announced yesterday that it will market LightSquared’s 1.4GHz spectrum as part of its Smart Grid and Smart Utility applications targeted at the electric, gas and water utility sectors in the US. Airspan said that access to licensed spectrum had been a critical “missing link” in Smart Grid communications. “The combination of equipment and licensed spectrum eliminates the problem of relying on interference susceptible shared frequencies for mission-critical applications,” said Paul Senior, Airspan’s CTO. The 1.4GHz licensed spectrum will be managed by Airspan and will be made available to utilities in their distinct geographic markets.

LightSquared said earlier this week that it was in advanced talks to lease its spectrum to US technology companies and claimed it had already reached some agreements. “This initiative [with Airspan] is consistent with our goal of enabling improved spectrum use with an open, wholesale business model,” said Frank Boulben, LightSquared’s chief marketing officer. “Our smart grid partnership with Airspan complements our plans to establish a nationwide mobile broadband network.” LightSquared is backed by US hedge-fund Harbinger, which last month awarded Nokia Siemens Networks a US$7 billion contract to build the new network. While LightSquared is already looking to lease its spectrum assets to companies such as Airspan, the actual network is not due to be switched on until next year.