Russia Denies OneWeb's Satellite Internet Request:
A firm that plans to launch hundreds of satellites into orbit to provide worldwide internet coverage has failed in its latest attempt to get approval in Russia.
OneWeb, whose headquarters are in the UK, was seeking to use a certain band of radio frequencies in Russia.
However, the State Commission for Radio Frequencies has denied it permission to do so.
OneWeb has been trying to get approval for its Russian operations since 2017.
The company was founded by US entrepreneur Greg Wyler. It launched its first six satellites, out of a proposed 650, into orbit in February.
In 2017, Russia's communications authority Roskomnadzor blocked OneWeb from offering services in the country.
And the Federal Security Service (FSB) said that the satellites could be used for espionage.
Of note is that OneWeb is using Russian rockets and launch sites to deploy its satellites.
(Score: 2) by legont on Wednesday July 31 2019, @11:57PM (4 children)
Russian concern is probably not the censorship, but the reliance on technology from a country known for denying it to other countries at difficult moments (aka sanctions).
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday August 01 2019, @12:14AM (3 children)
The satellites are still going to be in orbit whether or not Russians can use them.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by legont on Thursday August 01 2019, @12:33AM (2 children)
That's fine as far as Russia is concerned. It probably does not care that much if some folks would use them to watch gay porn. However, Russia does not want them to be used for critical infrastructure and since it would be illegal the chances would be low.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 01 2019, @02:07AM (1 child)
In Russia [wikipedia.org]:
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 01 2019, @02:12AM
Also in Oz [wikipedia.org].