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posted by Fnord666 on Monday July 23 2018, @09:58AM   Printer-friendly
from the spacial-mesh dept.

This May, sleuths at IEEE Spectrum revealed something exciting -- Facebook appeared to be secrely working on an experimental satellite that could beam internet down to Earth using millimeter wave radio signals.

Now, Facebook has confirmed to Wired and CNET that the satellite, dubbed Athena, is indeed a Facebook project -- and that Facebook is a believer in satellite internet technology.

"While we have nothing to share about specific projects at this time, we believe satellite technology will be an important enabler of the next generation of broadband infrastructure, making it possible to bring broadband connectivity to rural regions where internet connectivity is lacking or non-existent," a Facebook spokesperson told CNET and Wired.

But Wired does have more to share about this specific project. Using a Freedom of Information Act request, Wired says it obtained emails from the FCC that reportedly show Facebook plans to launch the Athena satellite in early 2019. In space launch terms, that's coming up pretty dang fast.


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  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday July 23 2018, @02:09PM (3 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 23 2018, @02:09PM (#711226) Journal

    I bet it has more sensors and cameras and stuff that isn't strictly necessary for the stated purpose.

    Facebook should focus on legalizing massive hoardes of drones instead. You can not only get better pictures of people's roofs, backyards, pools and bedrooms, but with suitable equipment are more likely to be capable of recording audio as well. In space nobody can hear a blue scream of death.

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  • (Score: 2) by acid andy on Monday July 23 2018, @08:58PM (2 children)

    by acid andy (1683) on Monday July 23 2018, @08:58PM (#711434) Homepage Journal

    Facebook should focus on legalizing massive hoardes of drones instead.

    You spelt "shouldn't" wrong. I know you were probably being ironic but Facebook users probably won't know that and nor will Facebook's R&D.

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    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday July 23 2018, @09:44PM (1 child)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 23 2018, @09:44PM (#711457) Journal

      Not to worry. Facebook's R&D has probably already thought of this idea and might even be working on it. I'm sure they won't be inspired by this post but rather by their ruthless drive to ensure that absolutely nothing in the world can be private.

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      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 24 2018, @02:48PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 24 2018, @02:48PM (#711735)

        but rather by their ruthless drive to ensure that absolutely nothing in the world can be private.

        That's not accurate. Zuckerbergs own data, he certainly wants to keep private.