Facebook wants to launch its own internet satellite

Facebook plans to launch its own satellite to provide internet connectivity in remote areas. The launch should take place in early 2019 and will be followed by some other satellites.

Wired found the plans in emails exchanged with the FCC in 2016 and confirmed them to Facebook itself. The emails say that the internet satellite will be called Athena and will be launched in early 2019. The purpose of the satellite is to provide efficient broadband access to areas that have little or no internet access.

Facebook lawyers are reported to have met with the FCC several times to discuss “a limited-duration mission involving a small satellite system in low Earth orbit.” This suggests that Facebook plans to add more satellites after Athena.

Facebook’s plan shows strong similarities with SpaceX’s Starlink project. That company is working to put thousands of satellites into orbit about 1200 kilometers high to set up a broadband Internet network. OneWeb is also working on a network of satellites that will provide the internet.