| In 2008 Google announced plans to invest an | | | | of web users in Africa receive better, faster, |
| internet access system for three billion people in | | | | more reliable internet access. In 2008, with just |
| Africa and other countries. The aim of the plan | | | | 50 million web users across the continent, as few |
| was to bring high speed internet access via a | | | | as 5% of African's access the internet, a |
| satellite broadband service provider in Africa and | | | | percentage far lower than in Asia, Europe or the |
| elsewhere in the developing world starting the roll | | | | Americas. The advantages of having high speed |
| out of the services in 2010. | | | | broadband access in Africa will help to encourage |
| Mobile phone use in the developing world is | | | | and grow the economic, social and educational |
| booming and in order to tap into the growing | | | | capacity of the developing world as well as enable |
| demand and market a company called 03b | | | | more locally generated content. Until now fixed |
| Networks system is planning to produce 16 next | | | | phone lines which allow everyone else in the world |
| generation satellites. With the geographical, | | | | to join the internet network of services are |
| engineering and financial difficulties involved in | | | | virtually nonexistent across the continent. |
| laying fibre cables across the remote terrain of | | | | Currently there are only four lines per 100 people, |
| countries such as Africa a satellite solution can | | | | the lowest rate anywhere in the world and rather |
| overcome these problems to offer a fibre-like | | | | than increase these being able to access |
| broadband speed. Satellite technology can deliver | | | | affordable high speed broadband internet access |
| internet connectivity to any location on the planet. | | | | via satellites will boost trade, and crucially allow the |
| Google as well as supporters such as HSBC and | | | | citizens to access online health, educational and |
| Liberty Global, are dedicated to helping the handful | | | | government services. |