Facebook announced Monday that it will use the Israel Aerospace Industries' AMOS-6 communications satellite, to provide internet access to 14 Sub-Saharan African nations as part of its internet.org project.
The AMOS-6, a US$200 million, 5-ton satellite, built by Israel Aerospace Industries and operated by Israeli company Spacecom, in partnership with France’s Eutelsat Communications, will be part of Facebook’s Internet.org platform to expand Internet access — mainly via mobile phones.
The geostationary satellite will provide coverage for large parts of West, East and Southern Africa, AMOS-6, expected to be launched in August 2016 and Spacecom is expected to earn US$95 million from the deal.
Spacecom CEO David Pollack said, “The fact that the leading companies in their markets, Eutelsat and Facebook, chose the AMOS-6 satellite for their new strategic initiative is further proof of the high quality of production of the AMOS-6 and its adaptation for a new role is a vote of confidence in Spacecom and its satellites. “With this, Spacecom and the AMOS satellites join the frontline of communications satellite providers which provide suitable solutions for the needs of the world’s development zones. We are very proud to be given the opportunity to collaborate in such an important initiative.”
