Richard Branson Plans Huge New Broadband Satellite Constellation Friday Jan 16 2015 08:51 EDT You can add Sir Richard Branson to the growing list of companies that are exploring satellites, drones and hot air balloons to deliver broadband services to developing nations. Branson and Virgin announced that they're building the "world's largest ever satellite constellation," which will be run by OneWeb and utilize Virgin Galactic's LauncherOne programme for satellite launches "at a much lower cost and with greater reliability." "According to the International Telecommunications Union, as of the end of 2014, more than half the world’s population lacks internet access – this new satellite constellation could dramatically improve that figure, bringing fresh opportunities to the billions of people who are currently held back by a lack of technology," says the company. There's of course been a long line of similar efforts with a mixed track record of success. We've also been seeing a significant ramp up on this front by the likes of Google, Facebook and 03b, with the motivation sometimes being to help developing nations -- but just as often to empower devices that will sell ads to billions upon billions of potential new eyeballs. There's a little more detail over in the company's official release. |
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If there's absolutely nothing else chose satellite internetIt's better than dial up or nothing at all, but there really isn't a lot of upside to the technology.
1. Weather can affect the signal to and from the satellite knocking out internet access.
2. High ping rates.. The time it takes a signal to bonce off the satellite and back down to earth.
3. Most VPN's won't work with satellite internet. The latency is typically too high and bandwidth to slow to support.
4. Slow bandwidth
Still, give kudos to Branson for attempting to bring some kind of technology to areas of the world.
Maybe a few of these sticking points can be improved upon, but no one wants satellite internet unless there's absolutely no other options. | |
|  |  SysOp
join:2001-04-18
Atlanta, GA
3 edits |
SysOp
Member
2015-Jan-16 9:06 am
Re: If there's absolutely nothing else chose satellite internet"It's better than nothing at all" Davidc502, next generation tech will be even better than current generation Exede, which is not that bad if you have nothing else at a better price. Exede-5 Download Speed 15.66 Mbps Upload Speed 4.79 Mbps Latency 680 ms Jitter 27 ms » Current Status , Jan 13, 2015 | |
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AnonDude to davidc502
Anon
2015-Jan-16 9:11 am
to davidc502
said by davidc502:It's better than dial up or nothing at all, but there really isn't a lot of upside to the technology.
1. Weather can affect the signal to and from the satellite knocking out internet access.
2. High ping rates.. The time it takes a signal to bonce off the satellite and back down to earth.
3. Most VPN's won't work with satellite internet. The latency is typically too high and bandwidth to slow to support.
4. Slow bandwidth
Still, give kudos to Branson for attempting to bring some kind of technology to areas of the world.
Maybe a few of these sticking points can be improved upon, but no one wants satellite internet unless there's absolutely no other options. It seems like he's talking about satellites in lower earth orbit( around 400 miles ). latency won't be any more an issue than land based internet. Last thing we need is 2400 more satellites up there. As far as latency of conventional satellites, unless you find away to make signals go faster than light you aren't decreasing latency below 500 ms. | |
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to davidc502
This will work (though not for gaming) if it's done with birds in Low Earth Orbit. For most people who have no access at all around the world this can be a great thing. | |
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cool88
Member
2015-Jan-16 5:36 pm
Re: If there's absolutely nothing else chose satellite internetI watch the video on it. he is talking about (leo low earth orbit). | |
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to davidc502
except they're not doing it to compete with existing infra. They're doing it to reach places that don't have anything.
In which case,
1) if they have it 95% of the time, they're way better off
2) ping rates don't matter as they're happy to have access
3) Vpn's may be used, but vary rarely. the need isn't there. the goal is simply for access
4) no one really cares at 10mpbs vs 50 | |
| |  cork1958Cork
Premium Member
join:2000-02-26 |
to davidc502
said by davidc502:It's better than dial up or nothing at all I think I'd have to go with nothing at all for as expensive as satellite internet is and I CAN afford it! Who, in a third world country, could? Why do you think they're a third world country anyway? | |
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What we really need is...More CEOs like Richard Branson. He appears to be someone who is thankful for the people who helped him to get where he is. He doesn't seem to act like the rich douchebag that thinks everyone is below him.
I remember watching the first episode of his reality show where he dressed up like an old man and was the taxi cab driver for the contestants. He then kicked one or two of them off the show for being assholes and not offering to help the old man with the heavy bags. | |
| | SysOp
join:2001-04-18
Atlanta, GA
4 edits |
SysOp
Member
2015-Jan-16 9:22 am
Re: What we really need is...In 3rd world areas without internet access, what percent of the demographics have credit cards, laptops, tablets, computers, smart TV's? How much disposable income is expected? Even if Virgin gets the price right and people adopt this early on, it's a substantial investment that may take years to mature before seeing a profit.
To help ensure a subscriber base they really need to offer a level of free access where people can get free access to Virgin News, Virgin media, Virgin shopping, Virgin maps, Virgin information and apply fora Virgin credit card!
The consumer buys their own hardware and aligns their own dish. It's up to them to connect to the free area.
Once they have a free account, they can then buy and sell goods from the Virgin Market place. Just think, for additional money you can buy access the world wide web | |
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Re: What we really need is...said by SysOp:In 3rd world areas without internet access, what percent of the demographics have credit cards, laptops, tablets, computers, smart TV's? How much disposable income is expected?
... [snip]... In 3rd world parts of the United States... for example in the affluent Dallas neighborhood where I live, SBC/AT&T's best "broadband" product offering is "u-verse at 768 kb. Read that again... in the home of the Corporate Headquarters of AT&T and in an affluent neighborhood, their best product offering is "broadband" at 768 Kb. What a joke! We don't have a competitive capitalist environment here... we have regulated monopolies. I would personally welcome more competition, much like T-Mobile is providing in the wireless sector. I more than have the means to pay for alternatives... bring on the competitors. | |
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Re: What we really need is...If the monopoly was better regulated, you might actually see some competition. Like all of the countries where the incumbent telcos are forced to sell access to their networks to third parties (unlike VZ/AT&T who can choose to sell the crappiest DSL services to competitors and keep their fibre networks exclusive), that result in masses of choice regardless of where you live.
It also helps that these telcos have put money into wireline networks unlike AT&T's "capped LTE for everyone" future | |
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to battleop
But since it is Virgin, it's also worth taking with a pinch of salt. They are the masters of PR and spin.
It might happen, it might not, but they'll talk a damn good game while we find out. | |
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knighttfc
Anon
2015-Jan-16 5:57 pm
Reminds me of Gate's plan to do the same ~2000Went no where. | |
| |  David
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL |
David
Premium Member
2015-Jan-18 3:12 am
I just hope for the bestI just hope he is careful and tests things thoroughly. Recently his flying craft (and pilot) crashed down on earth » www.theguardian.com/scie ··· h-mojaveI wish him the best, but if I may say from what everyone is probably thinking "be careful" I would say try a flying drone maybe or remote control on the initial test flight maybe? or make sure the pilots have an escape plan. | |
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