US authorities gave Boeing permission to launch 147 satellites into orbit. In this way, the company wants to provide consumers worldwide access to broadband internet.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) “has approved an application for a license to build, station and operate a satellite constellation,” a statement said. “Boeing plans to provide broadband internet and communications services to residential, commercial, government and business users.”
The FCC has approved 147 satellites for Boeing, the vast majority of which will be placed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) orbit. For example, 132 will be placed at an altitude of about 1,000 kilometres; fifteen others will be placed at an altitude between 27,000 and 44,000 kilometres. Competing companies have already come up with plans for satellite constellation projects.
US billionaire Elon Musk, head of SpaceX, has already launched more than 1,500 satellites into orbit. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has a similar project under the name Kuiper.