Posted on 02/17/2014 9:16:06 AM PST by Hojczyk
Title
Forget the Internet - soon there will be the OUTERNET: Company plans to beam free Wi-fi to every person on Earth from space
An ambitious project known as Outernet is aiming to launch hundreds of miniature satellites into low Earth orbit by June 2015
Each satellite will broadcast the Internet to phones and computers giving billions of people across the globe free online access
Citizens of countries like China and North Korea that have censored online activity could be given free and unrestricted cyberspace 'There's really nothing that is technically impossible to this'
Known as Outernet, MDIF plans to launch hundreds of satellites into orbit by 2015.
And they say the project could provide unrestricted Internet access to countries where their web access is censored, including China and North Korea.
Using something known as datacasting technology, which involves sending data over wide radio waves, the New York-based company says they'll be able to broadcast the Internet around the world.
The group is hoping to raise tens of millions of dollars in donations to get the project on the road.
'There isn't a lot of raw research that is being done here; much of what is being described has already been proven by other small satellite programs and experiments.
There's really nothing that is technically impossible to this'
But at the prospect of telecoms operators trying to shut the project down before it gets off the ground, Karim said: 'We will fight... and win.'
If everything goes to plan, the Outernet project aims to ask NASA for permission to test the technology on the International Space Station.
And their ultimate goal will be to beginning deploying the Outernet satellites into Earth orbit, which they say can begin in June 2015.
https://www.outernet.is
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Hundreds of satellites by 2015? Better get busy!
What could possibly go wrong? (besides nearly everything...)
“Outernet”. Wow!
Why would anyone do this for free. I’m thinking it’s not going to be free for long.
Color me skeptical. If the service is given away for free then the product they are selling is you - that is, your privacy.
The existing Wifi frequencies are probably designed for their current implementation: distances covered in hundreds of feet, bandwidth for small numbers of local users.
Good luck making existing devices work over distances of many miles, servicing millions of devices.
Is this a non-profit…Yep
Outernet is being incubated by Media Development Investment Fund, a New York-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. MDIF has supported freedom of expression and information access since 1995.
Will they let the tea Party on????
Reply:
"No, users cannot be tracked; but no, users cannot use the Internet via Outernet. Nor can they choose the content being broadcast. This is a one way communcations mode, similar to talk radio using hypertext markup language instead of loudmouthed white men."
I’m willing to listen to them. However, I’ve learned the truth of the statement, “There is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’”.
Wow....all it takes is use of real catchy phrases like "Wide RF technology", UDP, Cubesats (like those research programs funded by DARPA), and on and on and on.
I'm surprised they didn't through in "big data" somewhere there.
Physics is a real "b!tch." Taking a standard cell phone that has at most 10, 20 mW (heck, make it 100 mW) RF power and a likely omnidirectional antenna gain and then jumping to a 'cubesat' with an equally pitiful power budget when it comes to 'wide RF' transmission, along with all the other problems this 'scheme' could take is truly a feat.
Give them your money. They only need 'millions', but they'll take 'billions'.
I do not wish to sleep under an Outernet moon!
WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
See reply #10. This is only from a poster on their forum, not their official position, but ...
Re: their non profit status. I believe Move On, Organizing for America, Planned Parenthood, etc are "non profit".
How are they going to ensure that devices that can broadcast back to the satellites (for silly things like the desired URL)? I have satellite internet and it requires a parabolic dish with a higher transmission power than my tablet or computer.
Or private
“”There is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’”.””
Well unless you are an illegal alien in public school
Very nice, but you need a suitable receiver. It will not be cheap. Governments can block its import. Plus there’s the problem of latency. 1/4 second. No way to overcome that one.
Maybe they can get the democrats to declare that internet access is an entitlement, and instead of obamaphones they will be giving the “poor” their very own sattelite modems.
“We’re sorry for the interruption in your service. A meteorite has exploded near your satellite receptor. We expect to restore service soon, in no more than 8 to 10 weeks.”
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