The social media giant is going to spend $10 billion on creating its satellite Internet network. Online retailer Amazon will compete with Elon Musk's Starlink, which has been testing satellite internet since last year. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has already approved Amazon's plans.
The team that will join Amazon includes more than 12 experts, including specialists in the field of physics, aviation, and satellite Internet systems, The Insider reports. The information was confirmed to The Information by a Facebook spokesman.
The team will join Amazon's existing 500-member team, which is also working on developing satellite internet. Facebook will transfer some of its know-how and equipment to Amazon as part of the deal while other terms were not disclosed.
According to Insider, Facebook has been trying to create its own satellite network since 2015 but then abandoned this idea.
Amazon plans to launch more than 3 thousand satellites into low-earth orbit. The corporation is going to spend $10 billion to create an appropriate infrastructure in the United States. The company should launch half of the satellites by 2026.
Other competitors of Amazon in the field of satellite Internet include Britain's OneWeb, which has already raised enough money to deliver all of its satellites into orbit by the end of 2021.