Japan Launches High Speed Internet Satellite

[GhostShip]

Good news for those in the asian sphere of influence

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7260673.stm

Japan's space agency has launched an experimental communications satellite designed to enable super high-speed data transmission in remote areas.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said the satellite had separated from the rocket and successfully entered its intended orbit, 283km from Earth.

The agency said that with Kizuna, it hoped to enable data transmission of up to 1.2 gigabits per second at a low cost across Japan and in 19 different locations in South-East Asia.
Kizuna is also known as the Wideband Inter-Networking Engineering Test and Demonstration Satellite, or Winds.

Lets hope the tests go ok and they launch further satellites to cover more of the region, it is after all an area with many small islands that could benefit from this.

[White Stripes]

...meanwhile in the US; anyone outside city limits is -still- using the analog PSTN to connect to the web at a paultry 56k...

and rather than the government even thinking of launching sattelites to remedy this, their current priority is to test anti-sattelite missles.... (google it if you havent heard)

yes i know 2way satellite internet exsists in the USA but unless you're willing to shell out 300$month for ISDN-like speeds then its not really an option...

[Mick832]

Silver Stripes

Australian Broadband Guarantee

"Any Australian who is unable to access a metro-comparable broadband service (a minimum 512-128kbps data speed, 1GB per month data usage and a total cost, over three years, including installation and connection fees of $2,750 GST inclusive) at their principal place of residence or small business will be eligible to receive a subsidised service under the Australian Broadband Guarantee."

So if it is going to cost more than $76 a month the Aussie Government subsidises your connection using the 2 way satellite setup.    Maybe you should push your politicians for something similar.

[J a M e S]

Oh My..  Cool....  What next, Man, Japan allready have 100mb/1GB lines as standard in most areas..

[J a M e S]

And btw, Yes. It is I.. i am back o.o

[White Stripes]

@mick;
its a nice idea but considering the mindset of the rich and the current state of the US economy (and basic infrastructure.. like bridges and the power grid) i highly doubt such will happen in my lifetime... if ever...