Facebook today
announced a partnership with French satellite operator Eutelsat to provide
broadband internet to sub-Saharan Africa. Under a multiyear agreement with
satellite communications firm Spacecom, the two companies will use the AMOS-6
satellite to beam internet connections across "large parts" of
sub-Saharan Africa. The satellite is expected to come online during the second
half of 2016.
The announcement marks
the latest development in Facebook's Internet.org initiative, which aims to
bring free web services to underserved countries. The organization has begun
testing solar-powered drones as a way of delivering internet connections to
developing countries, and recently opened up its platform to more mobile
operators. Since launching in Africa in 2013, the service is now available in
19 countries, though it has come under criticism amid concerns that it may
hinder net neutrality. Others have alleged that Facebook's motives may be
driven more by profit than philanthropy.
FACEBOOK RETURNS TO
SATELLITES
Today's announcement
also follows a recent UN report which found that 57 percent of the world's
population still lack reliable internet connectivity — including 90 percent of
those living in the world's poorest countries. Broadband penetration has grown
dramatically across Africa in recent years, though access remains spotty and
expensive for many.
In a statement,
Eutelsat said its satellite partnership with Facebook would allow users to
connect to the web through "affordable, off-the-shelf" hardware,
adding that there is "pent-up demand" for broadband connections
across sub-Saharan Africa. Both Facebook and Google are exploring new ways to
deliver internet connections to the "next billion" offline users,
though each has reportedly pulled back from plans to develop their own
satellites.
"Facebook’s
mission is to connect the world and we believe that satellites will play an
important role in addressing the significant barriers that exist in connecting
the people of Africa," Chris Daniels, VP of Internet.org, said in a
statement. "We are looking forward to partnering with Eutelsat on this
project and investigating new ways to use satellites to connect people in the
most remote areas of the world more efficiently."
By Amar Toor on October 5, 2015 07:44 am
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