Boeing Receives FCC Approval to Launch Its Own Internet Satellite Project
Boeing finally received the green light for its proposed satellite internet project for 2017. Boeing, like SpaceX, can now begin to build, launch and operate its own high-speed Internet via satellites.
The airline plans to put 132 satellites in low earth orbit at an altitude of 1,056 kilometers. Another group of 15 satellites will rise in “non-geostationary orbit” to an altitude of 44,221 km.
Boeing plans to provide broadband internet and communications services to residents of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands during the construction of the satellite network. But once the network is complete, it will launch globally, just like SpaceX.
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All Boeing satellites will use the V-band, the highest wireless transmission frequency of SpaceX and Amazon. While it allows higher data transfer rates, it also carries a high risk of interference because solid objects are difficult to penetrate.
There is also the risk of collision with other satellites when Boeing enters an already congested network.
Boeing has a total of six years to launch half of its satellites and nine years to deploy the entire network.
The company asked the FCC to extend the term as it wanted a total of 12 years, but the FCC rejected that request.