In 2024, NextNav achieved significant milestones, reinforcing our position as a leader in next-generation positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions. Here’s a recap of some of our top news and accomplishments from the year:
A New Vision for Terrestrial 3D PNT to Help Solve a National Security Concern
In March, we signed an agreement to acquire additional spectrum licenses in the Lower 900 MHz band. This acquisition will enhance our capacity to advance and strengthen PNT services.
Building on this, in April, we filed a rulemaking petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconfigure the Lower 900 MHz band. Our proposal aims to enable a terrestrial 3D PNT network to complement and backup the Global Positioning System (GPS), while also unleashing 15 MHz of low-band spectrum for 5G broadband.
“In a time when spectrum is scarce, we have a solution to prioritize national security and public safety and free up spectrum for 5G. It’s a win for Americans and the US economy,” said NextNav CEO Mariam Sorond.
In August, the FCC released a public notice seeking comment on our innovative spectrum solution, marking a significant step forward in the regulatory process. Since then, we have continued to advance our groundbreaking spectrum proposal with the publication of comments and reply comments in September, as well as additional filings with the FCC to demonstrate the value of our proposal. Reflecting on this progress, Mariam emphasized:
“The NextNav team continues to hold active discussions with the appropriate stakeholders, including through engineer-to-engineer dialogue in support of our petition. We believe that collaborative analysis is essential to achieving an outcome that best serves the public interest and addresses a national security problem.”
In a white paper issued in September by Virginia Tech University, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.) David Simpson discussed the critical role of PNT services, with a focus on U.S. dependency on space-based systems like GPS. Admiral Simpson highlights the vulnerabilities of GPS and stresses the need for the U.S. to develop a robust terrestrial complement and backup to GPS to ensure resiliency in critical infrastructure and military operations.
In November, former House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Greg Walden (R-Oregon) and former member of both the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-California), released this op-ed, making the case for a ground-based complement and backup to GPS to help strengthen our national security.
We will continue to collaborate with industry and regulatory partners to unlock the potential of a terrestrial 3D PNT network. We are committed to working with FCC leadership to shape the future of resilient and innovative PNT solutions.
Economic Report Finds Total Quantified Value of a Terrestrial GPS Backup is $14.6 Billion
In October, an economic analysis by The Brattle Group highlighted the substantial benefits of our proposal for a terrestrial GPS complement and backup. The study found that a one-day global GPS outage could cost the U.S. economy $1.6 billion, and our solution could prevent a loss of $663 million during such an event. The total quantified value of implementing our terrestrial GPS backup is estimated at $14.6 billion.
“The need for greater resiliency in lifesaving and mission-critical terrestrial PNT technologies has been acknowledged by four Presidential administrations, yet few proposals have provided a clear path to a robust solution without substantial government intervention or taxpayer funding,” said Dr. Coleman Bazelon, a lead author of the report.
| TABLE 5: POTENTIAL LOSSES BY SECTOR DUE TO A GPS OUTAGE ADDRESSABLE BY NEXTNAV | |||||||
| Sector | Potential Losses ($ millions) | ||||||
| 1-day Outage [A] | 7-day Outage [B] | 30-day Outage [C] | |||||
| Telecommunications | [1] | $51 | $1,670 | $13,528 | |||
| Maritime | [2] | $221 | $1,545 | $6,620 | |||
| Telematics | [3] | $164 | $1,147 | $4,915 | |||
| Location-based services | [4] | $89 | $626 | $2,681 | |||
| Oil and gas | [5] | $48 | $333 | $1,426 | |||
| Agriculture (soil mapping) | [6] | $42 | $291 | $1,247 | |||
| Mining | [7] | $30 | $208 | $890 | |||
| Surveying | [8] | $10 | $72 | $310 | |||
| Electricity | [9] | $9 | $60 | $258 | |||
| Finance | [10] | Negligible | Negligible | Negligible | |||
| Total | $663 | $5,951 | $31,875 | ||||
New Leadership Strengthens the NextNav Team
In January, John Muleta was appointed to the NextNav Board of Directors, also serving as a member of the Audit Committee. With a distinguished career spanning the public and private sectors, including serving as Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at the FCC, John brings invaluable expertise to our mission.
In May, Sanyogita Shamsunder joined as our first Chief Operating Officer, bringing extensive experience from her leadership roles at Google and Verizon. She served as Head of Edge Network Infrastructure at Google, where she led the team that developed and maintained Google’s multi-vendor Global Edge Network. She managed various network and product teams at Verizon, including as the Vice President of Product Strategy and Operations, where she led early 5G network technology development and trials.
In June, Nicola Palmer was appointed to our Board of Directors. As the former Chief Product Officer at Verizon, Nicola’s strategic insight and industry knowledge further enhance our ability to deliver transformative solutions.
In October, Susan Insley joined NextNav as the Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer. A results-driven leader, Susan has a proven track record of driving business growth by aligning people strategies with corporate objectives and implementing innovative practices to develop talent and inspire teams.
NextNav Honored for Our Leadership and Outstanding Achievements
In July, NextNav announced an award from the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct real-world field tests of its 3D PNT technologies to provide PNT information to meet critical infrastructure needs when GPS service is not available and/or degraded due environmental, unintentional, and/or intentional disruptions.
“As NextNav continues to develop technology solutions to address national security, economic, and public safety needs, we are pleased to engage with the U.S. DOT on the mission-critical work of testing our complementary PNT services,” said Mariam.
Mariam was named to the Forbes Technology Council, recognizing her leadership in advancing PNT technologies and three decades in the telecom industry.
In a proud moment for NextNav, our Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Arun Raghupathy was recently honored by the University of Maryland’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. This prestigious award celebrates alumni who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and made notable contributions to their industries.
In November, NextNav’s VP of Government Affairs Edward Mortimer was honored by The Hill as a top lobbyist for 2024 for his leadership in government affairs. The Hill recognizes Ed for his outstanding advocacy and leadership. We are grateful for his dedication to advancing NextNav’s mission through impactful government relations. Read the full list here.
Finally, to round out the year, NextNav was named a finalist in two categories of the 2024 Fierce Network Innovation Awards. We’ve been recognized for:
- Mobile Evolution category – Next Generation 3D PNT: Terrestrial 3D PNT powered by low-band spectrum
- Top Changemaker category – Mariam Sorond CEO and Chair of the Board of NextNav
This acknowledgement underscores our innovative contributions to positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions. Mariam’s visionary work in spectrum management has been instrumental in driving these efforts forward. The recognition also highlights our petition for rulemaking, proposing to reconfigure the Lower 900 MHz band and adopt new rules to enable a 3D terrestrial PNT network to complement and backup GPS.
Key Industry Events of 2024: Showcasing Innovation and Leadership
IWCE 2024 (International Wireless Communications Expo)
As a cornerstone event for public safety and critical communications, IWCE provided the perfect opportunity to discuss how NextNav’s solutions support first responders and emergency services. We participated in two impactful sessions: 1. The Implications of Z-Axis for PSAPs and Emergency Response and 2. Incident Response and Innovations with Location-Based Services.
We highlighted how reliable and resilient location technology can enhance operations and save lives in mission-critical situations.
Public Safety Innovation Summit 2024
This year’s event brought together leaders from across the public safety ecosystem. At the summit, we explored the evolving demands of public safety and demonstrated how our precise NextNav 3D location technology can address these challenges.
“We presented NextNav 3D, our technology that incorporates vertical location data into traditional geolocation services. This integration provides a comprehensive 3D visualization of First Responder or emergency caller locations, a game-changer for urban environments with multi-story buildings.” – NextNav Director of Public Safety, Rob Clark
Mobile World Congress (MWC) Las Vegas 2024
NextNav proudly sponsored the Government, Homeland Security & Defense Summit, a focal point for discussions on the intersection of national security and innovation.
Our leadership team, including Mariam and Sanyogita took center stage, sharing insights into how resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions are critical for the future of public safety and a more resilient national infrastructure, as we continue to focus on helping solve a national security concern through the enablement of a terrestrial PNT backup and complement to GPS.
Broadband Breakfast: Broadband in the Trump Administration
We were pleased to have our Mariam share her vision and insights on addressing the pressing national security need for a complement and backup to GPS at Broadband Breakfast’s event in December.
As Mariam noted during her executive conversation: “GPS is vital for many things we use daily. It’s a critical service that underpins American commerce, public safety, and national security. As a satellite-based system, GPS is vulnerable to spoofing, jamming and interference. The need for GPS resilience has been recognized by every Administration since the 1980s.”
Looking Ahead: 2025 Begins with Exciting Opportunities
As we move into 2025, NextNav is poised to build on the momentum of this past year with key events that will showcase our thought leadership and innovative solutions.
CES 2025
Sanyogita will participate in the panel “5G is Here and Mainstream: Exploring What’s Now and What’s Next.” The session on January 7th will provide a platform to highlight how NextNav’s PNT solutions integrate seamlessly into the broader ecosystem of 5G advancements.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2025
NextNav will have a strong presence, including a dedicated meeting room at this premier global telecommunications event, once again hosting meaningful conversations with industry leaders. Want to meet the team at MWC 2025? Request a time here.
IWCE 2025 (International Wireless Communications Expo)
NextNav will present during this key event for public safety and critical communications professionals. The presentation will include real-world experiences, demonstrating how 3D solutions can be used for critical incidents. In this panel discussion will include real-world experiences, demonstrating how 3D solutions can be used for critical incidents.
As we reflect on 2024, it’s clear that NextNav’s journey has been defined by groundbreaking innovation. From advancing our resilient PNT solutions to strengthening our leadership team and earning industry recognition, every event has reinforced our commitment to enhancing national security, supporting public safety, and shaping a more resilient nation—one milestone at a time.