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Ben Woods
Europe EditorBen is a technology journalist with a specialism in mobile devices and a geeky love of mobile spectrum issues. Ben used to be a professional Ben is a technology journalist with a specialism in mobile devices and a geeky love of mobile spectrum issues. Ben used to be a professional online poker player. You can contact him via Twitter or on Google+.
Bringing internet access to developing nations has been Facebook’s intent for Internet.org since it launched the service in Zambia last year.
With multiple expansions since then, it might have seemed logical for the company to launch its own satellite to facilitate getting new countries online. However, while perhaps logical, this expansion won’t be happening any time soon, according to The Information.
The reports says Facebook’s $1 billion plan has been abandoned in favor of partnering with existing projects or potentially leasing space on other satellites. Again according to the report, the ends couldn’t justify the not inconsiderable means in terms of expenditure.
On the Internet.org project pages, it does still say that “the team is exploring a variety of technologies, including high-altitude long-endurance planes, satellites and lasers”, though. We’ve asked Facebook for a statement and will update if we hear back.
Facebook’s drones have a wingspan equivalent to a Boeing 737 aircraft and can stay aloft for months at a time at an altitude of around 60,000 feet.
However Facebook chooses to deliver connectivity to developing nations lacking in communications infrastructure, the project will undoubtedly remain controversial as long as it continues to offer restricted access to the internet.
Read next: Facebook’s Internet.org dropped by Indian companies over net neutrality
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