According to a document that was obtained from our sources via Freedom of Information Acts requests, it appears that Facebook is still working on its initiative to develop hardware that boosts the signal of high-speed internet in remote areas, however its work is now being moved to space. An application filed with the FCC under the name, PointView Tech LLC reveals the social media platform is now working on an internet satellite that should be able to “efficiently provide broadband access to unserved and underserved areas throughout the world.” When our sources reached out to Facebook for comment, it confirmed the reports.
We got this report just a few weeks after the company made an announcement that it was shutting down its drone design under the Aquila project. Facebook stated that no longer will it develop autonomous high-flying drones that use solar power and beam internet to remote areas and undeserved developing countries.
According to Facebook, Aquila will now focus on developing onboard software systems that guide internet aircraft. The parent company of Google, Alphabet, did a similar thing in January 2017 when it shut down its solar-powered drone in order to carry out its Wi-Fi initiative Project Loon.
In a comment to our sources, a Facebook spokesperson said that, “While we have nothing to share about specific projects at this time, we believe satellite technology will be an important enabler of the next generation of broadband infrastructure, making it possible to bring broadband connectivity to rural regions where internet connectivity is lacking or non-existent.”
The benefit Facebook gains from this is that it becomes the internet provider for every new market in the universe and this will increase the possibility of new internet users becoming members of the social media platform, and in that wise increase the global reach of the social network and also strengthen its online advertising domain.
