Social media giant Facebook has taken initiative behind the internet.org aiming to provide basic internet access to all the developing countries in Africa.
The company signed a deal with a France-based satellite operator Eutelsat to launch a satellite that’ll help to deliver free internet to people living in Sub-Saharan nations, Euteslat announced on Monday.
Both companies settled for a multi-year aggrement with Israel-based satellite operator Spacecom, who are set to utilize the entire broadband payload.
AMOS-6, the name of the satellite that Facebook is set to launch is scheduled to come into operation by the end of 2016. This geostationary satellite with Ka-band spot beams will deliver internet to people in Africa with affordable equipment.
The launch was expected to be in 2013, however the delay of its launch caused criticisms towards internet.org from people in sub-Saharan nations. Countries in Africa like Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Senegal, Malawi and Tanzania are already powered with internet through the tech-company.
“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.
The company also came under criticisms after a few companies dropped out from supporting Internet.org for a project in India. It was assumed that the net neutrality principles were not prioritized while Zuckerberg strongly defended the case claiming that ‘something is better than nothing’.
It’s not just Facebook expanding its efforts all around the world to deliver Internet for free. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also unveiled his plans to launch a ‘constellation’ of satellites to provide connect people to internet all over the world.
Google is also set to invest over $1 billion to bring internet access to different remote areas all over the world via satellites.
What’s you take on the story? Write us in comments.