Samsung’s global internet dream would require 4,600 satellites

Samsung has revealed an intriguing proposal to provide global internet coverage using satellites.

In recently published research, the company said blanket connectivity would require sending a whopping 4,600 micro-satellites into low Earth orbit.

According to the proposal, which is by no means a statement of intent, Samsung says they’ll be necessary to facilitate the zetabyte data we’ll be consuming per month by 2028.

That figure equates to about 200GB per month for five billion internet users, as reported by Extreme Tech.

“With this large number of satellites needed to meet the goal, our motivation for low-cost micro-satellites with lower development and launch costs become even more apparent,” wrote Farooq Kha, author of the report.

Samsung’s plan would require the satellites to be positioned much closer to the Earth than the current communications satellites, which are positioned about 35,000km above the surface.

Of course, Samsung isn’t the only company looking beyond the surface of the planet to offer ubiquitous internet access.

Naturally, we’ve seen interest from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, while Facebook’s plans involve drones. Google is already testing its balloon-powered Project Loon initiative, while it is also considering drones.

The research, entitled Mobile Internet from the Heavens is available to read online.