Satellite Broadband Aims to Revolutionize African Development

Satellite Broadband Aims to Revolutionize African Development
John Butts@JBMedia - Reports:
AFRICANGLOBE – A new satellite system was launched into orbit last week that aims to bring high-speed Internet to remote communities across the globe. Its backers say it could have a big impact in rural parts of Africa by speeding up economic and social development. Others argue the huge amounts of money, however, should be spent on more basic needs.
Lift-off for the O3b – or “Other 3 Billion” – satellite system occurred last week in French Guiana. The system goes “live” later this year when eight satellites will enter a lower orbit to provide a faster connection.
Its backers include Google and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, among others.
Founder Greg Wyler said the “Other 3 Billion” are the people on the planet without access to fast Internet.
“This will enable everybody, and it will be a cascading effect, but it enablehttp://www.africanglobe.net/business/satellite-broadband-aims-revolutionize-african-development/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+africanglobe%2FQfoi+%28WWW.AFRICANGLOBE.NET%29s everybody in these societies to become economically relevant to the rest of the world,” he said.