Google has thrown its weight behind ambitious plans to bring internet access to 3 billion people in Africa and other emerging markets by launching at least 16 satellites to bring its services to the unconnected half of the globe.
The search engine has joined forces with John Malone, the cable television magnate, and HSBC to set up O3b Networks, named after the “other 3bn” people for whom fast fibre internet access networks are not likely to be commercially viable.
They will announce an order for 16 low-earth orbit satellites from Thales Alenia Space, the French aerospace group, as the first stage in a $750 million project to connect mobile masts in a swath of countries within five degrees of the equator to fast broadband networks.
Greg Wyler, the entrepreneur who founded O3b Networks, said its satellites would be operational by the end of 2010. Wireless spectrum required for the service had been secured through the International Telecommunication Union.
I know Malone has been interested in projects like this for a long time. Google’s addition is no surprise either. Interesting to see HSBC’s participation.
The absence of infrastructure on a large scale is pervasive in the 3rd World and developing nations. Internet access via satellite might be more cost effective than cellular access. There certainly ain’t anyone there rolling out copper or fibre.
Not to mention the involvement of Allen & Company:
* Bill Bradley, ex-Senator/presidential candidate and Hall of Fame basketball player
* Nancy Peretsman Managing Director
* George Tenet ex Director of the CIA
Micro$oft has a lot invested in McCaw Cellular for satellites, but I can’t remember if that project every got off the ground.
Those pillaging the continent need better bandwidth for streaming vids.
Great, now all they need is a way to download food and water off the interwebs.
Africans are doing a lot by themselves too:
http://www.afrispa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=8&Itemid=46
and according to some African Govt. plans, they soon may have BETTER Internet access than typical American. So, Google would be better off pounding on the fat and lazy USA ISPs than trying to gain foothold in Africa.
As usual, dear moderators please do not replace the complete URL in my post with the tinyurl-ized one. Full URL does carry info about where the content originates visible before clicking on it and the type of content, also visible before you click on it.
I don’t think the Republicans & Libertarians would approve. The private sector helping people??? Won’t do. According to several recent comments, these people would be much better served starving to death.
#4, Dusan,
If you want the link to show the site, then reference the site in your comments. Posting these long URLs is annoying and bothersome. So you just might just get off your fat lazy ass and start pounding out some relevant crap.
Can you say “BY-PASS” ??? The Telcos must be STEAMING !!! Can’t wait for Google to bring it home !!!
I think they’d rather have food and clean water.
how useful will this be for the militias so they can more efficiently carry out the business of genocide!
This is a silly solution.
The most effective solution has proven to be long range wifi using conventional, cheap technology.
http://blogs.intel.com/research/2008/03/rural_connectivity_platform_be.php
Do you know who HSBC’s largest account holder is? Maybe you should. Do you care to know instead of making a passing comment about it being “interesting”?
Do I have to come to Dvorak.org and do the reporting for you? John, can you pls. hire some real journalists over here? I’m busy. Thanks!
Brendal: Go on, tell us who HSBC’s largest account holder is…. John C obviously knows exactly who it is (John C knows everything, that is why he has a website, you can’t have a website unless you know everything, its part of the rules) but he want you to tell us…. Is it John C? Is he HSBC’s largest account holder?
JUST KIDDING!!!! 🙂
#4 “and according to some African Govt. plans, they soon may have BETTER Internet access than typical American.”
Oops! They forgot electricity! Plus what #9 listed…
Brendal: damn, I was hoping it was going to be good old John C…. then I could hit him up for some ‘investment capital’ (I am working on a very important research project that tries to answer the question: “Can money buy happiness?” I am just having troubles finding the funding….)
[quote]This is a silly solution.
The most effective solution has proven to be long range wifi using conventional, cheap technology.
http://blogs.intel.com/research/2008/03/rural_connectivity_platform_be.php
[/quote]
hmm… except that it’s much harder for the locals to “commandeer” foreign owned infrastructure if it’s hovering several hundred miles above the earth.
#17, Corn,
Which is what makes this such a great idea for no only Africa, but everyone.
Except the conservative elements that want to see the Africans starve to death.
HSBC is an Asian organization pretending to be a US entity, thus becoming the worst of both. Google should chose it’s partners with more care.
Franken vs Palin in 2012
Oops, wrong thread 😀
If you have ever had the misfortune to get the net via Sat. You will know how bad a service it is. Paid 54.95 to get 100k up and 500k down.The funny thing is I would only get those speeds at 3 AM in the morning. 2 PM in the afternoon you would be lucky to get 300k down.