Facebook has announced it’ll be partnering Eutelsat, a French Communication firm on a new initiative to make Internet connectivity available in Africa using satellite technologies.

Eutelsat and Facebook will be utilizing the “entire broadband payload” on the future AMOS-6 satellite to build a dedicated system that’ll supply connectivity to 14 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The AMOS-6 satellite will go live later this year.

“ 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. We are looking forward to partnering with Eutelsat on this project and investigating new ways to use satellites to connect people in the most remote areas of the world more efficiently,” Facebook’s VP of Internet.org Chris Daniels said concerning the partnership, which continues the company’s Internet.org initiative.
Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat Chairman and CEO, also noted his company’s excitement towards stepping up Internet connectivity in Africa: “We are excited by this opportunity to accelerate the deployment of our broadband strategy and to partner with Facebook on a new initiative to provide Internet access services in Africa. Eutelsat’s strong track record in operating High Throughput Satellite systems will ensure that we can deliver accessible and robust Internet solutions that get more users online and part of the Information Society.” .

The project transmission will begin in the second half of 2016, according to Facebook, with connectivity beamed to users beyond the reach fixed and terrestrial mobile networks.

[ Eutelsat ]