Facebook Set To Launch Satellite In 2016

The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has announced that the social network will launch a satellite that will provide internet access to remote parts of … Continue reading Facebook Set To Launch Satellite In 2016


Facebook Set To Launch Satellite In 2016The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has announced that the social network will launch a satellite that will provide internet access to remote parts of Africa.

As part of their Internet.org efforts to connect the world, the social network is partnering with Eutelsat to launch a satellite into orbit that will connect millions of people.

According to a post on the social network, Zuckerberg is optimistic that the first satellite will be launched in 2016, in partnership with French-based satellite provider Eutelsat.

He highlighted that over the last year, Facebook had been exploring ways to use aircraft and satellites to beam internet access down into communities from the sky.

The Facebook founder stressed the need to develop new technologies. He said “to connect people living in remote regions, traditional connectivity infrastructure is often difficult and inefficient, so we need to invent new technologies.

“As part of our collaboration with Eutelsat, a new satellite called AMOS-6 is going to provide internet coverage to large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The AMOS-6 satellite is under construction now and will launch in 2016 into a geostationary orbit that will cover large parts of West, East and Southern Africa.

“We are going to work with local partners across these regions to help communities begin accessing internet services provided through satellite,” Zuckerberg posted on Facebook.