Satellite companies have a chequered history when it comes to trying to enhance the monetization value of their spectrum by supporting hybrid satellite/terrestrial services. The USA’s Ligado Networks (formerly mobile satellite operator LightSquared) still faces disputes with the GPS community over accusations that 5G signals in its hybrid network, in L-band spectrum, will interfere with positioning systems. These delays to commercialization forced LightSquared into bankruptcy protection, and Ligado still has an uphill battle. An even longer saga of setbacks is associated with Globalstar, which also survived bankruptcy filings earlier in the century, though it has emerged with new management and a new fleet of satellites in both geostationary (GEO) and low-earth orbit (LEO) markets. One of its assets is a…