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Satellites to breach the digital divide

The new space race to bring the internet to everyone everywhere.

Bridging the global digital divide, using satellites in space, is the dream of the world's richest men like Elon Musk of SpaceX and Jeff Bezos of Amazon. They're joined in a new space race to carpet the earth in satellite constellations with national governments, private companies and the recently rescued OneWeb, under the new ownership of the British government and Bharti Enterprises.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, the executive Chair of OneWeb tells us why firing hundreds rockets skywards makes business sense, even in a crowded market. And he's promised to leave no-one behind. We also speak to Caleb Henry of Quilty Analytics who tells us about the players in the market and Victoria Samson of the Secure World Foundation warns of the dangers of a crowded Lower Earth Orbit.
Presented by Ed Butler and produced by Clare Williamson.
(Image: Lift off Vr, Credits: Roscosmos and Space Center Vostochny, TsENK)

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18 minutes

Last on

Tue 9 Feb 2021 08:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Tue 9 Feb 2021 08:32GMT

Podcast