Google To Spend Over $1 Billion To Launch 180 Stallites For Internet Domination

The Wall Street Journal has learned that Google has created an internet provider program with 180 small low Earth satellites. Google will spend more than $1 billion on deploying its first Internet-beaming satellite fleet that will help Google bring the Internet to remote locations where broadband isn’t available or there is no internet access at whatsoever.

Googles satellite venture is headed up by Greg Wuler, founder of satellite-communications startup O3b Networks. He and O3b’s former chief technology officer both recently joined Google and the two now have around 10-20 engineers working on the project. O3b Networks stated out in 2007 and in 2013 successfully developed and launched four 1,500-pound satellites that can beam down Internet with the speed of fiber to deliver satellite Internet services and mobile backhaul services to emerging markets. The satellites orbit at an altitude of 8,000km, which is less than one quarter of the altitude of geostationary satellites; significantly reducing satellite latency. The first four satellites did run into some performance degradation though and the launch of the final four satellites was delayed due to what is said to be a faulty timing unit on their satellite.

Google wants to launch even smaller models, that will weigh just 250 pounds each. Launching the 180 small satellites could cost $600 million and the WSJ‘s sources say the costs for the venture could top $3 billion as Google makes tweaks to the network and revises the number of satellites it needs to offer internet in unconnected parts of the world.

This news isn’t that shocking though. Last year, Google’s Project Loon was announced and uses balloons to act as high-altitude internet service providers. Nearly two-thirds of the world’s population does not yet have internet access. Google is looking to fill the gaps and bring the internet to everyone. By doing so, they would also get more users and that means more revenue.