• Google to Bring Internet to the Masses

    Google to Bring Internet to the Masses

    Techtree News Staff, Sep 11, 2008 1759 hrs IST

    Backs 'The Other Three Billion' project

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Google has joined the O3B (The Other Three Billion) project -- whose mission is to make Internet accessible to almost three billion people who are yet to experience the technology.

Google and partners are investing around $60 million in this project mainly targeted at emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East where there is still a huge potential for the Internet to grow. The initial step involves the order of up to 16 low orbit, Thales Alenia satellites which will form the basic framework to set up the broadband network.

Google is also in talks with mobile phone companies already established in these areas so that they can use their towers as multi-purpose high speed nodes. This will cost Google an estimated $750 million and will help cut the bandwidth cost in these areas by up to 95%.

The satellites are expected to be up by 2010 and it seems Google is all set to cash into this untapped market. However, it remains to be seen if the basic infrastructure needed for the users to get online is set up first. This includes basic requirements like availability of power and the computers, cheap computers and basic computer literacy.

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Discussion Board
(1) Comments
Rahul Jawale
,Hyderabad, on Sep 11, 2008 11:05 PM
It's google' strategy to get a grab of untapped market. Out of the 3 Billion, even if 10 % start using internet, it's most likely that they will end up using google services. 10% of 3 B is 300 million new users. That's a huge potential market out there.
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