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Nokia Siemens Networks has been hired to design a hybrid 4G-Satellite network for mobile devices. They will be spending close to $7 billion dollars to design and build the network over an 8 year period. This network will be called LightSquared and they expect a commercial launch in the second half of 2011 with 92% of the U.S population covered by 2015. The LightSquared network will become the backbone allowing mobile phone providers, cable companies and other networks to configure their devices to work on either 4G or their new Satellite network. The concept would be similar to Sprint's and CLEAR'S hybrid 3G/4G mobile devices, but with 4G and Satellite capabilities instead.

This service could have the potential to be a savior for rural users that need reliable cellular coverage. When a user leaves a cellular zone, theoretically, they'd be switched over to the Satellite network which has the capability of penetrating areas that cellular towers fail to cover. It is yet to be determined if this service will offer any gains over the current generation of Satellite broadband for data purposes. Unless they've solved the speed of light problem (Satellite is 22,500 miles in space) it's highly unlikely that any type of real time VPN (Virtual Private Network) or VOIP (voice over internet protocol) would work efficiently in Satellite covered areas.