Satellites launched to provide worldwide Internet
A company has launched six satellites in a multi-billion-dollar project to make low-cost Internet accessible to every corner of Earth. The company, OneWeb, launched the satellites on board a Soyuz rocket. OneWeb is planning a network of 900 satellites and will send more satellites into space at the end of this year. It will launch several rockets every month, each carrying 39 satellites. Only 648 satellites can provide global Internet coverage. OneWeb's CEO said the network would greatly change the lives of millions of people. He said: "We're going to connect lots of people who are not currently connected." His company will focus on connecting schools, boats, planes, and "huge swathes of the planet". Not everyone is happy. China is testing jammers to block the network. North Korea and Russia might fear the network could gather intelligence and damage national security. |