Google is reportedly planning to invest more than $1 billion in a fleet of satellites that will bring internet across the globe, even to the remotest places.
A new report claims that Google, the internet titan, is planning to spend more than $1 billion on a project to bring internet access to the remotest corners of the world. Google will make this dream possible by dispatching a fleet of small satellites that will orbit the Earth at low altitudes and kick off the project with a small test fleet of 180 high-capacity satellites.
The news of Google's latest adventure was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, Sunday, citing an unnamed spokeswoman who revealed that the Mountain View, Calif. based Web Company hoped to bring internet access to the millions of people without access to the web in different parts of the world.
"Internet connectivity significantly improves people's lives. Yet two thirds of the world have no access at all," WSJ quoted her as saying.
Google has also been hiring new engineers from satellite company Space Systems/Loral LLC to kick-start the project, a person familiar with the hiring initiative revealed. The paper also added that the project is led by Greg Wyler, founder of satellite-communications start-up O3b Networks, who recently joined Google along with O3b's CTO. Google is an investor in the satellite communications company, which has been working on 1,500 pound satellites. But the ones Google will use to bring internet everywhere will not weigh more than 250 pounds.
Google isn't the sole runner in bringing internet access across the globe. In March, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed the company's plans to beam internet to people from the sky using drones, satellites and lasers. The social network has a dedicated Connectivity Lab to fulfill its dream.
Google itself has been working toward its big move for quite some time. The web giant acquired Titan Aerospace, a maker of high-altitude, solar powered drone satellites in April and made headlines in June again for its plans to bring internet access to remote parts of the world through high-altitude balloons.
If Google finds a way to connect the world to the internet with at least one of its ideas, balloon, drone or satellite, it can add new markets to its network and a large group of users for its products and services that can be offered alongside.
