Facebook to launch satellite in 2016 to connect millions

Facebook is continuously evolving and striving hard to reach new heights. Quite literally, the social media giant has announced its first project to deliver “internet from space” and has partnered with Eutelsat to launch a satellite into orbit that will connect millions of people.

With the traditional connectivity infrastructure being complex and inefficient, need arises for new technologies in order to connect people living in remote regions.

“As part of our collaboration with Eutelsat, a new satellite called AMOS-6 is going to provide internet coverage to large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. The AMOS-6 satellite is under construction now and will launch in 2016 into a geostationary orbit that will cover large parts of West, East and Southern Africa. We’re going to work with local partners across these regions to help communities begin accessing internet services provided through satellite”, said Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook.

Facebook has also launched Internet.org, an initiative bringing together technology leaders, non-profits and local communities to connect the two thirds of the world that doesn't have Internet access.