Google To Spend Billions On Satellite Internet Effort

Google is reportedly planning to spend at least $1bn (£600m) on launching a fleet of satellites intended to spread Internet access across the globe, following in the footsteps of earlier efforts such as Iridium and Teledesic, which were hobbled by financial and technical problems.

The project is intended to begin with 180 small, high capacity satellites that orbit the earth at lower altitudes than typical satellites, and could expand from there, according to unnamed sources cited in a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Ambitious effort

The satellite plans are being led by Greg Wyler, founder of satellite-communications startup O3b Networks, who joined Google recently along with Brian Holz, O3b’s former chief technology officer, according to the report’s sources. David Bettinger, chief technology officer of satellite communications company VT iDirect has also joined Google’s effort, according to the report, along with engineers from Space Systems/Loral.

Wyler and his team of between 10 and 20 people report to google vice president Craig Barratt, who, in turn, reports directly to chief executive Larry Page, the Journal’s sources said.

Google is reportedly planning to spend between $1bn and $3bn on the effort, depending on how many satellites are deployed, which could range up to double the initial figure. The report cited experts who estimated such a project could cost up to $20bn, based on past efforts.

The project follows Google’s Project Loon, which is testing the deployment of high-altitude balloons for deploying Internet services across the 40th parallel of the southern hemisphere. Those balloons could also be replaced or supplemented by solar-powered drones made by Titan Aerospace, which Google acquired in April, according to industry experts cited in the report.

Such drones, which can remain aloft for up to five years at a time, are considered complementary to satellites of the kind Google is considering, with drones offering higher-capacity service for smaller areas and satellites providing broader coverage but lower capacity.

Fleet of small satellites

Google is reportedly planning to use satellites weighing less than 250 pounds, compared with those weighing about 1,500 pounds each that are being worked on by O3b. The startup has been planning to launch about a dozen such satellites.

Google may  also make use of software-controlled phased-array antennas, which can track multiple satellites, of the kind developed by Kymeta, which has worked with O3b.

“Internet connectivity significantly improves people’s lives,” Google said in a statement provided to the press. “It’s why we’re so focused on new technologies—from Project Loon to Titan Aerospace—that have the potential to bring hundreds of millions more people online in the coming years.”

The satellite project faces regulatory challenges, including the necessity of coordinating the fleet with those of other satellite operators.

Earlier efforts including Teledesic and Iridium were scrapped because costs were higher and technical issues more complex than expected. The Teledesic satellite effort, backed by Microsoft, among others, halted in 2002 after spending more than $9bn.

Facebook is currently backing a drone-based Internet access plan, and recently purchased Somerset-based solar-powered drone designer Ascenta as part of that initiative.

Both Google and Facebook derive the vast majority of their revenues from advertising, and the connectivity efforts are intended to bring new populations online, potentially creating new advertising markets.

Are you a Google expert? Take our quiz!