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Google backed O3b satellites to provide high-speed Internet
By siliconindia
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Friday, 12 September 2008, 23:30 IST
Bangalore: Now Google, the search engine, funding a constellation of 16 satellites for high-speed, low cost Internet connectivity. It is an initiative to provide connectivity to emerging markets in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East located near the equator.
The search engine is joining forces with cable TV giant John Malone and the HSBC, for the project in which the satellites are planned to orbit near the equator to deliver Internet connectivity by O3b networks. Entrepreneur Greg Wyler, founder of O3b, who realized the need and the difficulty of getting high-speed Web access to emerging nations while he helped to establish early 3G and fiber-to-the-home networks in Africa formed the idea. According to him, "Only when emerging markets achieve affordable and ubiquitous access to the rest of the world will we observe locally generated content, widespread e-learning, telemedicine and (much) more." Moreover, investment-banking firm Allen & Company is also helping to finance the project, although at a lower level than the three chief financing entities, Google, Malone and HSBC.
