Facebook is teaming up with the French satellite company Eutelsat to launch a satellite that will provide internet access to people in sub-Saharan Africa. The satellite will launch next year and service will start in the second half of 2016. It will reach 14 countries in West, East and Southern Africa.

Facebook will use the satellite to bring free Internet access to rural areas. The company is using satellites, lasers and drones to get the “next billion” people around the world online as part of its Internet.org initiative. It has already connected people in nearly 20 countries.

“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,” said Chris Daniels, VP of Internet.org, in a statement.
Facebook and Eutelsat are leasing the AMOS-6 satellite from Israeli company Spacecom. The two companies will share the satellite and use it for their own individual services. Eutelsat will expand its paid broadband connections in the region for businesses and well-off individuals.
Earlier this year, Facebook unveiled a new custom drone it is building to bring internet to hard-to-reach and underserved locations. Other companies are also racing to bring low-cost, low-bandwidth Internet to the world. Google is working on Project Loon which uses hot air balloons.

http://qlick.com.ng/facebook-partners-eutelsat-beam-free-internet-africa/

Bad news for MTN

Youngpo413:
Bad news for MTN

very bad news for there market.

Youngpo413:
Bad news for MTN

Yes, to an extent. Might be low bandwidth. Fast enough to chat and browse facebook but too slow to be used to stream your favorite TV series or watch that funny video on YouTube. In which case, MTN will still have customers.

SAS things on point