During a recent Senate committee hearing, SpaceX laid out its plans for building a global internet network by launching more than 4,000 satellites into orbit. The company’s application to the FCC was completed in November, and it is eager to move forward with its plan.
The fact that you’re able to read this article means you are one of the more than 3.77 billion people in the world that has access to the internet. While that’s already a good number — more than half of the world’s population, in fact — some 3 billion others don’t have such access. Thankfully, a number of efforts are underway to bring the internet to the farthest corners of the globe, and one of those is being put forth by SpaceX.
Back in November, Elon Musk’s company filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of its plan to create a high-speed, global internet network. At yesterday’s Senate hearing on U.S. broadband infrastructure, SpaceX confirmed this plan.
“SpaceX plans to bring high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband service to consumers in the U.S. and around the world, including areas underserved or currently unserved by existing networks,” explained Patricia Cooper, SpaceX’s VP for satellite government affairs, in a prepared statement during the hearing.
SpaceX plans to improve internet speeds and overall connectivity in the U.S. and the rest of the world by putting 4,425 satellites into orbit between 2019 and 2024. The satellites will be transported into space in multiple batches via the company’s Falcon 9 rockets.