Google to Spread the Web With $1 Billion Worth of Satellites

Google is in a hurry to extend its reach and connect the world to the internet by installing a fleet of satellites. The company that started by providing a popular search engine is investing in a range of other technologies, including alternative energies and driverless vehicles. The company also aids internet use with Project Loon, a network of high-altitude balloons, quick to build and relatively affordable, that could provide global coverage. Nonetheless, satellites offer greater capacity, flexibility and dependability, and construction costs have declined in recent years. The company has not reported whether the satellites will replace or augment the balloons, reports Kris Holt for TechNewsWorld. Facebook and other companies are exploring use of drones to connect users. The company also has a business rationale, Holt reports: “Along with the somewhat noble notion of connecting people in remote regions to the Internet, Google's latest Internet scheme could be seen as part of tech companies' tussle to take over Internet infrastructure, largely bypassing the networks of telecoms.” – YaleGlobal