Google plans to connect the world with 180 satellites

To the Western and Developed world, the internet is part of day-to-day life, a necessity that is hardly thought of anymore because it is so entrenched in the daily life of billions. For the undeveloped world, however, steady access to the internet is a dream.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Nearly two-thirds of the planet still lacks reliable internet access. Unable to connect with a wider world, or benefit from the advances that mass communication provides. For Google, this problem must be remedied.

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The California-based, American internet giant is planning to make history by launching a fleet of 180 satellites to provide access to the web for the nearly 5-billion people not yet online. Google will spend more than $1 billion on this project, a number that will rival similar efforts by Facebook.

Though scant few details have been released, the Wall Street Journal reports that the satellites will vary significantly from traditional satellites. They will be small, high-capacity and will orbit the Earth at lower altitudes.

This project is being led being led by the founder of satellite-communications start-up O3b Networks, Greg Wyler. Depending on the network's final design, the group may double the number of proposed satellites.

This is just one of the latest attempts from Silicon Valley to connect the world to the internet; a separate project, also from Google, has the same goals, but will use high-altitude balloons instead.

Developed by the company's X Lab, the same team behind Google Glasses and the driverless car,  Project Loon, would involve helium-filled balloons which would carry transmitters that could beam a 3G-speed internet to remote locations.

These projects could spare developing countries from laying the cables required to get online, which is expensive, and could lead to a dramatic increase in internet access for countries in Africa and south-east Asia.

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