Free Wi-Fi to entire world

26 February 2014 08:20 am - 59 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A US company is planning to build an 'Outernet' - a global network of cube satellites broadcasting Internet data to all the people on the planet - for free.

The idea is to offer free Internet access to all people, regardless of location, bypassing filtering or other means of censorship, according to the New York based non-profit organisation, Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF).

MDIF proposes that hundreds of cube satellites be built and launched to create a constellation of sorts in the sky, allowing anyone with a phone or computer to access Internet data sent to the satellites by several hundred ground stations.

The organisation claims that 40 per cent of the people in the world today are still not able to connect to the Internet - and it's not just because of restrictive governments such as North Korea - it's also due to the high cost of bringing service to remote areas, 'phys.org' reported.

An Outernet would allow people from Siberia to parts of the western US to remote islands or villages in Africa to receive the same news as those in New York or Tokyo.

The Outernet would be one-way - data would flow from feeders to the satellites which would broadcast to all below.

MDIF plans to add the ability to transmit from anywhere as well as soon as funds become available.

MDIF has acknowledged that building such a network would not be cheap. Such satellites typically run $100,000 to $300,000 to build and launch.

The timeline for the project calls for deploying the initial cubesats as early as next summer. (PTI)

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Comments - 59

USA Return Wednesday, 26 February 2014 05:02 PM

Mr. Google unfortunately what you said about green card and thousands in the queue in the USA embassy is a very wrong indication. Let me tell you. I have been to USA. currently I am in US for a visit. The grass is not greener here let me tell you we sri lankans are far more talented compared the to americans. For you info the so called biggest economy in the world is USA's and their stock exchange system was build by a srilankans and thier back end carried out in Srilanka. These poeple don't think out of the box the go with book!!

jim pappa Wednesday, 26 February 2014 02:04 PM

Why need hundreds more "cubes" when Uncle Sam already have spies in the sky, which can zoom on us and take pictures. Maybe there is more to it than we can possibly imagine. Anyway, if they want to "police" us there is absolutely noyhing we can do.

rasa Wednesday, 26 February 2014 02:11 PM

Free Rice, Free Medicine and now Free Hi Fi. Let us now make the best use of this, in the interest of mainly the future generation, looking into the positive aspects of such benefits from the IT technology

Lanka Shantha Wednesday, 26 February 2014 02:27 PM

It is impossible in Sri Lanka. First you have to have permission from your carrier to get connected through internet through them or your phone must be a satellite phone. Or you must have a satellite receiver.

Amila Prasad Wednesday, 26 February 2014 08:08 PM

Everything have a black side and a white side..... Lets see.

taiyoob Wednesday, 26 February 2014 08:15 PM

Whats the catch behind this :?

ghettoboy Wednesday, 26 February 2014 03:11 PM

With Voice over IP this will mean the end of all Telecom companies around the world.

Gayan Wednesday, 26 February 2014 03:11 PM

That's true.

Google Wednesday, 26 February 2014 08:52 PM

Dont get confused ! What we have now is ' internet ' - what is offered free is ' outernet' But internet will continue with security and privacy ext - Outer net will be available in the air with free access similar to sun light or your TV chanels .Whats the big problem ? those do not wish to access can leave it and pay for internet . Howmany free wifi spots we already have and use but somebody is paying for it . Here it is US is spending for that and we get wifi free. Even internet is provided by US .

The problem is you guys dont know - that you dont know -- Dont blame USA

If green cards are given free - there will be thousands standing in que at US emabssy .

Nimal Wednesday, 26 February 2014 03:25 PM

Great way to Spy the world

kumar Wednesday, 26 February 2014 03:56 PM

Internet is a very big problem in Sri Lanka.....so........outernet...?....we don't need to go Geneva by flight.....

Anil Mendis Wednesday, 26 February 2014 03:58 PM

Another strong sign to prove... Second Coming of Jesus Christ is sooo NEAR !!!

Anti Christ Regime is to follow thereafter!!!

Are we getting ready for what ??

xlntgson Wednesday, 26 February 2014 04:05 PM

I remember TV towers were built free by Japanese so that we would buy more tv sets! Nothing is free.

kumar Wednesday, 26 February 2014 04:17 PM

Internet is a very big problem in Sri Lanka.....so........outernet...?....we don't need to go Geneva by flight.....

growing youth pynas Wednesday, 26 February 2014 09:48 PM

sorry NSA we dont wont your free wifi we will pay n earn for it thank you vry much for your offer..just keep peeping on your americans privacy.. via DM Android App

krishna Wednesday, 26 February 2014 02:02 PM

Hay,MR block the FB.

chinthaka Wednesday, 26 February 2014 05:07 PM

They say it is one way flow.
From sat to computer. Nothing going out from your computer or phone.
Local transmission is not so powerful to reach satellite.
So, you can't talk or SMS.

This is same like GPS.

chinthaka Wednesday, 26 February 2014 05:10 PM

Oh dear. This is not about two way internet data flow .
Satellite will transmit data for us to watch Internet.
Nothing go out from our computers.

Hence, you can't use it for Skype or SMS.

Jagath Leanage Wednesday, 26 February 2014 05:18 PM

wow. Great news. We don't have go behind these Internet providers here after. It will be a big save for us and big lost for government as we don't have to pay levies any more.

Rix Wednesday, 26 February 2014 05:43 PM

Poor future generation... Gonna live in an open prison.....

Fawzan Wednesday, 26 February 2014 06:19 PM

Hey Google, What is this Green Card story? Are you talking about so called self claimed war veteran?

G.M. Jayawardena Wednesday, 26 February 2014 08:07 PM

I think the concept is feasible. once started its a huge blow to the telecommunication operators who provide Internet and to the governments. The operators they spent for infrastructure to build 3g and 4g networks and ADSL may become obsolete. The governments may loose the taxes from the usage as non of the phone operators who provide internet may not have any control on this. On the other hand the Dongal may also become obsolete.. Its going to be very economical to the public

Sam Thursday, 27 February 2014 12:42 AM

WOW see the cost ONLY around $100Mn - 300Mn for whole world. SL will invest $1.2Billion for Monorail for few Km

C.K.Lankaputhra Thursday, 27 February 2014 12:53 AM

World is a global village. Dr. Arthur C Clerk's dream is becoming a reality, but the cussed politicos in SL definitely won't like it. They will soon come out with cockeyed reasons.

Paramanathan Thursday, 27 February 2014 01:01 AM

Great news! Wimal good point for you to make noise of "International Plot". GOSL has already banned the sale of satellite decoders (setup box) and satellite dish in SL.

Rajan Thursday, 27 February 2014 07:37 AM

That is also very good. Presently we are paying very high cost to it.
Rajan

Lushan Thursday, 27 February 2014 08:17 AM

Isn't that what they say all the time ?

dr ceylon Thursday, 27 February 2014 03:04 PM

great.

PRI Wednesday, 26 February 2014 11:15 AM

good but we haven't PC

Just Another Citizen Wednesday, 26 February 2014 08:30 AM

This ladies & gentlemen is in other words saying that they want to make it easier to spy on you :))

rizi Wednesday, 26 February 2014 02:06 PM

So we can expect more suicides frm schools in SL. via DM Android App

Akila Wednesday, 26 February 2014 08:43 AM

Then we all exposed , That cant be happened

Spitfire Wednesday, 26 February 2014 08:57 AM

Technically it should read "Free Internet Access for all beings" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Common Man Wednesday, 26 February 2014 09:03 AM

Agree with all the above!

Jaydin16 Wednesday, 26 February 2014 09:17 AM

I'm sure it's not that easy coz the big telecommunication giants are going to oppose it. But if it happens its well and good. One monthly bill is out :)

pradeep gomes Wednesday, 26 February 2014 09:27 AM

wow! good new for all of us.

MAMBO Wednesday, 26 February 2014 09:28 AM

HATS OFF TO US...., GREAT MOVE : ) IM LOVING IT

ANTON Wednesday, 26 February 2014 09:31 AM

FREE COMPUTER VIRUS AS WELL

Fahim Wednesday, 26 February 2014 09:43 AM

Its a small world ! and its getting smaller.

Spitfire Wednesday, 26 February 2014 09:56 AM

When the Internet started everybody of influence wanted it to a chargeable item but Sir Tim Berners-Lee did not allow it!

Concerned citizen Wednesday, 26 February 2014 10:34 AM

Signs of the brutal One-World-Ruler getting ready to dominate the world in the last days as predicted by the Holy Bible??

willows Wednesday, 26 February 2014 10:49 AM

so they can monitor everyone???

Shawn Wednesday, 26 February 2014 11:07 AM

The idiotic comment above about suicides tell how many people in Sri Lanka are still living in caves. Facebook operated for 10 years and at least the last 7 years it was trending in SL where now suddenly village kids found it, started a trend of suicides and start blaming FB and the whole internet? really?.....you can drink for the fun of it and you can also drink and die..its just your choice!!

leena Wednesday, 26 February 2014 08:29 AM

Okay. But what does this have to do with Wi-Fi ? Why does your heading say "Free Wi-Fi to all" ?

sanjee Wednesday, 26 February 2014 04:49 PM

Now US trying to collect data from everyone. Clever move

Samson Wednesday, 26 February 2014 11:28 AM

Who's funding? NSA or CIA? US lost the plot with Snowden and EU tipped to have more control over internet... so this could be another jilmart from USA spies.

Dutchy Wednesday, 26 February 2014 11:29 AM

A great move by US company! But the possibility of danger on privacy...

Gayan Jaye Wednesday, 26 February 2014 11:41 AM

Clever move by US. Use it at your own risk ! Watch out PEOPLE !

XYZ Wednesday, 26 February 2014 11:46 AM

How it could be a harmfull virous if its oneway communication..... just remove it after device is afftected...

ssivarajah Wednesday, 26 February 2014 12:13 PM

Some countries may protest to the UN - Because of infringement on their sovereignity

Hapuarachchi Wednesday, 26 February 2014 12:25 PM

Will Help the Oppressed

Vijith Wednesday, 26 February 2014 12:32 PM

It is wireless internet access through wi-fi(wireless fidelity)
the heading is right

Mahanama Wednesday, 26 February 2014 12:37 PM

Its a great move, in a country like ours telephone and internet charges are so high, Our telecom companies are getting higher profits in a very unethical way. Further we remember one time mobile phone was charged more than 100,000 LKR.
Thanks MDIF.

murthy Wednesday, 26 February 2014 12:44 PM

100K to 500K is for per cube ?

Sirimevan Wednesday, 26 February 2014 12:45 PM

WATCH OUT.

sudesh Wednesday, 26 February 2014 01:39 PM

SKYNET is inevitable, rise of the machines !!!

Farzy Wednesday, 26 February 2014 01:58 PM

80% of Americans don't get the best internet technology ! so if they do, it would be for monitoring most likely.

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Free Wi-Fi to entire world

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