Back in 2016 , Facebookbegan tinkeringwith plans to launch an net satellite projection that was mean to be a part of Mark Zuckerberg ’s frequently - reprise plans to “ connect the world . ” Five years later , it looks like the company ’s backed down — with Amazon take on its position .
The Information wasfirst to noticethat more than a dozen members of Facebook ’s former satellite team have since conjoin up with Amazon ’s Project Kuiper , the ecommerce giant’sambitious projectto build its own set of satellite to circle the globe . Facebook ’s x - head of Southern California Connectivity , Jin Bains , now lists himself as Project Kuiper ’s Director on hisLinkedin page , whilemultipleengineersfr0 m Facebook ’s team have made that migration as well .
According to the Information , Amazon give Facebook an undisclosed amount of money to grow the employees and a Facebook interpreter told the outlet “ the sales event to Amazon was the best manner for the satellite squad to continue their work , give that Facebook did not intend to launch a internet of artificial satellite itself . ” Facebook and Amazon did not immediately respond to Gizmodo ’s request for comment .
Photo: Denis Charlet (Getty Images)
Amazon ’s been ramp up hiring efforts for Kuiper since the enterprise was first announcedin 2019 . The team employs about500 staff member , currently , and there are more than 200 job listings up onAmazon ’s sitefor technologist , physicists , investigator , and software developer to work on the project . The destination , according to the party , is to have this team develop a “ configuration ” of approximately 3,200 orbiter that will circle the world , with the first half of them launched over the next five year . Back in April , the caller contracted with space vehicle retailer United Launch Alliance to ordernine rocketsmeant to place the first few thousand satellite in its web . Aside from these interstellar systems , the Kuiper team will also be responsible for for building the dozen hulkingground stationsresponsible for beaming information from those orbiter back to Earth . All told , Amazon plans to stream about $ 10 billion into this project .
Facebook , meanwhile , seems to have mostly stepped back from the blank space wash to focus on connectivity nearer to home ; in the beginning this month , the company announced a new initiative to repose subsea fibre eye cable’s length spanningover 1,000 milesthrough the Democratic Republic of Congo . At the same time , the troupe ’s been partnering with companieslike Ciscoas part of itsExpress Wi - Fi programthat spans across nation like South Africa and Malaysia .
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