O3b

Google buys satellite specialist; but for connectivity or cars?

Towards the end of last week, Google quietly dropped $500m on a satellite company that specialises in super high quality imaging. Now that the market has had a few days to digest the purchase, it seems the possibilities for Google are several – including connected car applications and connectivity for remote regions.

Google satellites to reach orbit in 2013

Google-backed satellite operator O3b Networks, which stands for “the Other 3 billion”, is set to launch services in 2013 after this week securing its final round of funding. The company has raised a total of $1.2bn from a group of investors and banks.

Delivering data by air and sea

During the keynotes and panel sessions on the morning of the first day of the Africa Com event in Cape Town, it became clear that non voice services hold much potential not just as a revenue generator, but also as a customer retention tool in Africa.

Google sets up satellite network in emerging markets

It emerged this week that web giant Google is sinking cash into a satellite operator to bring high speed, low cost internet connectivity to emerging markets. The brainchild of American entrepreneur Greg Wyler, who recently rolled out fibre networks in Rwanda with his company Terracom, O3b Networks proposes to wirelessly connect markets in Asia, Africa, […]