Google’s plans for satellite-based internet access just got a little more concrete. The Wall Street Journal hears that the search firm is planning to build 180 “small, high capacity” satellites (not pictured here) that will go into low orbit and provide internet connections to underserved areas. While details aren’t forthcoming about the machines, there may be more on the way; reportedly, the company could “double” its vehicle count if all goes well. A spokeswoman didn’t confirm or deny the efforts, but did note that having an internet link “significantly improves people’s lives.” The initiative might be very expensive, with tipsters estimating a cost between $1 billion to $3 billion. However, the satellites could eventually pay for themselves. They would really be an extension of the thinking behind the balloons from Project Loon — getting more people online increases the number of people who can see ads, improving Google’s bottom line. Any orbital internet service would most likely serve as a complement to Project Loon, providing data in far-flung, sparsely populated regions while the balloons handle places with greater demand. [Image credit: NASA/GSFC/Landsat, Flickr ] Filed under: Internet , Google Comments Source: Wall Street Journal

See the original article here:
Google is building 180 satellites to spread internet access worldwide

Don’t look now, but the speedy WiFi router you just bought may already be old hat. Huawei has tested WiFi based on a future standard (802.11ax) that can hit 10.5Gbps — about 10 times faster than what you typically get out of an 802.11ac connection today. The trick, the company says, is making more efficient use of the airwaves. The new technology is smarter at allocating wireless spectrum, juggling data between multiple antennas and cutting back on interference. Huawei doesn’t even have to switch to ultra-high frequencies to make the magic happen; its approach works on the same 5GHz band that many WiFi networks already use. You’re still a long way from picking up a 10-gigabit router at the local electronics shop. Huawei estimates that super-fast routers might not hit the market until 2018, and that’s assuming that both the 802.11ax standard and matching chipsets are ready. Don’t despair at being stuck with “only” single-gigabit wireless for four years, though. An updated 802.11ac spec (802.11ac-2013) is expected to launch in 2015 with 7Gbps speeds, so you’ll soon have plenty of bandwidth to spare. [Image credit: Getty Images] Filed under: Wireless , Networking Comments Via: ISPreview , Slashdot Source: Huawei

Visit link:
Huawei’s WiFi is ten times faster than yours