Google Spending $1 Billion On Satellites To Cover Earth In Wi-Fi – WSJ

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google plans to spend over $1 billion on a fleet of satellites that will be used to provide internet to parts of the world that currently lack digital connections.

According to “people familiar with the project,” Google will use 180 “small, high-capacity satellites” that will orbit the Earth at low altitudes. Led by Greg Wyler, who set up satellite startup O3b Networks Ltd, Google has been on a hiring spree to recruit engineers from satellite company Space Systems/Loral LLC, claims the Journal.

Now, if the report is accurate, Wuler is heading up a team of “between 10 and 20 people,” ultimately reporting to Larry Page. The project is scoped to provide internet to areas around the world without wired connections, and cost between $1 billion to more than $3 billion, depending on the network’s final design and size. The Journal claims that a later phase “could double the number of satellites. ”

Aside from organizational details, information about the project remains scant. But it’s not Google’s only drive to deliver internet from the skies: it’s already running tests with internet providing balloons, and it’s bought a drone company to cover the world in Wi-Fi, too.

While previous attempts to smother the world in internet via satellite have proved unsuccessful, that’s largely been due to escalating costs. If the the report is accurate, Google is now working on three high-profile projects to use airborne craft to connect the world. Clearly, cost isn’t too much of a concern for Page & Co..

Why? Well, aside from the obvious-being filthy rich-the provision of internet to currently unconnected locations across the globe opens up vast new markets. Google clearly wants it products and services to be the default option; we’ll just have to wait and see if it can pull it off. [Wall Street Journal]

Image by AP

20 thoughts on “Google Spending $1 Billion On Satellites To Cover Earth In Wi-Fi – WSJ”

  1. IMPERIALS, WATCH OUT THESE PEOPLE WILL MONOPOLYSE THE MARKET ONE PROVIDER ONE ADMIN ONE PERSON TAKES CONTROL…

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    Reply
  2. Wow, it’s gonna be amazing if that is true! Especially for East Africans, where one ISP is leading the whole country with very slow and expensive service.

    Reply
  3. Hello Idiots,

    They are killing us with radiation! Do the research. Microwave frequencies emitted by these will be the final straw. Cell phones, cell towers, wifi in schools … and now death by Google. And yes – it’s FREE!!!!!

    Reply
    • Hello idiot, don’t worry your safe, just keep that tinfoil hat on, Oh and don’t inhale when out doors CHEMTRAILS!!!! Please throw all your devices in the trash. You do realize your PC emits RF right?

      Reply
    • Are u for real??!?!? u can put some nickel over ur head… tell me is it some of the conspiracy crap? We just need the internet to learn and work…

      Reply
  4. It is definitely gng to affect our environment very badly coz a recent research has proved that plants can not grow near Wi-Fi modems
    If whole earth is provided with wifi Wt abt plants??
    It is a very important point to be focused

    Reply
    • I install WiMax and wifi all day long. It does NOT affect ANYTHING! If you were to put a plant right against a transmitting antenna that is typically 200 ft up a tower, it might cause a problem.

      Reply
  5. Full earth wi-fi…. wooowwwwwwwwwwwww.. that’s awesome man.. Google is seriously making it count man… i desperately waiting for this to happen ASAP… thanks for sharing this awesome news admin.. keep up the good work.. cheers..

    Reply
  6. Ok, the satellites will send us WiFi signal. But how will our computers send the response signal? That does not make sense

    Reply
  7. Google got the loon project, there i video about it.. and facebook got drones to test for entire africa continent…its a matter of time before i can check my email and use viber in comfort of my home village deep in east africa higlands 🙂

    Reply
  8. is it guna be free, one provider…. are they guna all have cameras (probably) and whats going to be the signal strength and where all over the world?, if they do this cell towers and phone companies will be useless. also how are they guna be powered and recharged and can they be hacked easily…

    Reply

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