Ligado’s $4.6 Billion of Debt Looms as FCC Mulls 5G Proposal

Ligado Networks LLC creditors got a sign that the Federal Communications Commission may soon weigh in on a life-or-death question for the satellite company that has drawn ire from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The satellite company is asking the FCC to allow it to repurpose its existing airwaves to develop a 5G wireless network, a plan that could prevent its $4.6 billion debt load from pushing it into bankruptcy later this year. The FCC is “working diligently” to make a decision on Ligado’s proposal, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in letters posted on its website, although it hasn’t indicated ...