Google to launch 180 satellites to provide Internet in remote areas

Google is planning to launch not one but fleet of 180 low-earth-orbit satellites to provide internet access in remote areas of world. Google plans to spend between whooping $1 billion and $3 billion to initially bring 180 high-capacity satellites in orbit at lower altitudes than traditional satellites, reported WSJ. If all goes right these Google's low-orbit satellites will circle at a lower altitude that traditional ones will be much lighter in weight that is about 110 kg which far lighter than traditional heavy-bulky satellites. The project, the paper reports, is being led by Greg Wyler, the founder of satellite startup company O3b Networks, which Google helped fund in 2010. In June 2013 this Google-backed O3b Networks launched its first satellites that aim to provide low-cost and high-speed connectivity to remote parts of the world. The project will be beneficial to two-third of people across the globe who are untouched to internet access and to Google as well, which in turn will provide Google to explore more business revenues via increased internet users. The Google backed startup O3b's name refers to the "Other 3 billion" - a reference to people worldwide who lack Internet access. The company has four satellites in orbit and plans to launch another four next month. Last year in June Google experimented Project Loon where it made helium balloons that fly in stratosphere and beams Internet to earth below it to provide internet access to remote areas however it didn't do much because of legal restriction and safety issues. It's not just Google which working in this area, but Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg also gave some hints on its plan to use drones, satellites and even data-carrying laser beams fired across space to provide internet access in remote areas of world. Moreover, Facebook has also hired aerospace and communications experts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and its Ames Research Center for its new "Connectivity Lab" project.