NextNav (NN) FY Conference Transcript

Summary of NextNav Conference Call Company Overview - Company: NextNav - Industry: Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions, specifically terrestrial GPS backup systems Key Highlights 1. Investment Highlights: - NextNav is developing a next-generation PNT solution integrated with 5G technology [1][2] - The company possesses valuable spectrum assets with excellent propagation characteristics for PNT and broadband 5G [2][8] - Strong management team with experience in telecommunications and national security [2] 2. Problem Statement: - Current satellite-based GPS systems have coverage limitations, especially in urban areas and indoors, and are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing [4][5] - The Department of Defense (DOD) has highlighted the national security risks associated with reliance on GPS [4][5] 3. Proposed Solution: - NextNav aims to create a terrestrial GPS backup using its spectrum in the lower 900 MHz band, which will be integrated into existing 5G networks [6][7] - The solution will provide reliable positioning and timing indoors and in urban canyons, addressing the vulnerabilities of satellite systems [6][7][10] 4. Spectrum Assets: - NextNav holds licenses covering over 96% of the U.S. population, with approximately 4 billion MHz pops in the lower 900 MHz band [8][9] - The estimated value of the GPS backup solution is $14.6 billion, providing significant economic insurance against GPS outages [9][15] 5. Economic Impact: - A one-day GPS outage could result in an economic loss of $1.6 billion, escalating to $58 billion for a 30-day outage [16] - NextNav's solution aims to mitigate these potential losses by providing a reliable PNT system [16] 6. Regulatory Process: - NextNav has filed a petition with the FCC to optimize its spectrum band plan for 5G integration [17][23] - The FCC has approved the assignment application, and the next step is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) [22][23] 7. Technical Studies: - Comprehensive studies have shown that existing toll operators can coexist with NextNav's operations with minimal retuning required [25][26] - Unlicensed operations in the IoT space will not be impacted by NextNav's spectrum usage [27][28] 8. Commercialization and Partnerships: - NextNav plans to partner with existing 5G operators to build out the PNT network, leveraging their infrastructure [57] - The PNT solution will require minimal changes to existing handsets and infrastructure, making it easier for operators to adopt [60][62] 9. Accuracy and Coverage: - NextNav's PNT solution is expected to provide single-digit meter accuracy in urban areas, significantly improving upon GPS performance in such environments [78][80] - The solution can be deployed nationwide, including rural areas, due to the favorable propagation characteristics of low-band spectrum [88] 10. Valuation and Financials: - The valuation of the PNT solution is based on the economic impact of GPS outages rather than direct spectrum valuation [91] - Recent transactions in low-band spectrum provide benchmarks for potential valuation [92] 11. Operational Efficiency: - NextNav operates efficiently with a small team and an existing live network, minimizing the need for taxpayer funding [98][99] Additional Insights - The urgency of the national security issue surrounding GPS reliance is emphasized, with NextNav advocating for swift regulatory action [40][50] - The company is confident in its path forward, indicating that even if the FCC does not grant the spectrum rebranding, it has alternative valuable technologies and spectrum [89][90]