---
title: "SpaceX Just Laid out a Plan to Give Everyone Internet Access"
description: "Elon Musk wants to use his rockets to connect the world."
date: "2017-05-04"
modified: "2017-05-04"
authors:
  - name: "Dom Galeon"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/domgaleon"
url: "https://futurism.com/spacex-just-laid-out-a-plan-to-give-everyone-internet-access"
categories:
  - "Future Society"
  - "Space"
  - "SpaceX"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "fcc"
  - "internet"
  - "SpaceX"
---

# SpaceX Just Laid out a Plan to Give Everyone Internet Access

![spacex internet global internet connectivity](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GettyImages-669607112-1.jpg>)
*Political World Map with global technology networking concept. Digital data visualization. Scientific cybernetic particle compounds. Big Data background communication. Vector illustration \<em\>Image: \<a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/license/669607112" target="\_blank"\>Getty\</a\>\</em\>*

## A Worldwide Network

The fact that you're able to read this article means you are one of the [more than 3.77 billion people](<https://wearesocial.com/blog/2017/01/digital-in-2017-global-overview>) in the world that has access to the internet. While that's already a good number — more than half of the world's population, in fact — some 3 billion others don't have such access. Thankfully, a number of efforts are underway to bring the internet to the farthest corners of the globe, and one of those is being put forth by [SpaceX](<http://www.spacex.com/>).

Back in November, Elon Musk's company filed an application with the [U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)](<https://www.fcc.gov/>) as part of its [plan to create a high-speed, global internet network](<https://futurism.com/spacex-will-launch-4425-satellites-which-is-more-than-are-currently-orbiting-earth>). At yesterday's [Senate hearing](<https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings?ID=98C6FDC4-B916-41FA-A78A-80E6D513E652>) on U.S. broadband infrastructure, SpaceX confirmed this plan.

"SpaceX plans to bring high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband service to consumers in the U.S. and around the world, including areas underserved or currently unserved by existing networks," [explained Patricia Cooper](<https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/6c08b6c2-fe74-4500-ae1d-a801f53fd279/655C5CBED75A50881172C1E9069D91E6.testimony-patricia-cooper---broadband-infrastructure-hearing.pdf>), SpaceX's VP for satellite government affairs, in a prepared statement during the hearing.

SpaceX plans to improve internet speeds and overall connectivity in the U.S. and the rest of the world by putting 4,425 satellites into orbit between 2019 and 2024. The satellites will be transported into space in multiple batches via the company's Falcon 9 rockets.

## A Basic Human Right

The United Nations recently declared [internet access a basic human right](<https://www.article19.org/data/files/Internet_Statement_Adopted.pdf>), and because it bypasses some existing complications to bringing internet service to far-flung areas, SpaceX's endeavor would be a huge step forward in the effort to ensure all of the world's citizens enjoy that right. "In large measure, the disparity in available service to rural and 'hard-to-reach' areas is the result of the heavy, up-front capital expenditures necessary to achieve connectivity to these locations," Cooper said.

![Image credit: NASA Johnson/Photopin](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/32269420323_33668d8d25_b.jpg>)
*Image credit: *NASA Johnson/Photopin**

However, Elon Musk's company [isn't the only one](<https://futurism.com/growing-movement-give-everyone-world-internet-access>) working toward global interconnectivity through improved internet service. Facebook is using [massive, solar-powered drones](<https://futurism.com/facebook-is-going-to-use-drones-to-beam-internet-everywhere>) to beam internet to the farthest corners of the world, AT&T wants to [deliver wifi through existing power lines](<https://futurism.com/atts-new-tech-aims-to-deliver-wifi-to-the-world-through-existing-power-lines>), and governments are getting in on the action, too, with [New York](<https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/20/nyregion/new-york-broadband-cuomo-internet.html>) and [Canada](<https://futurism.com/canada-to-spend-750-million-to-ensure-all-citizens-have-internet-access>) planning initiatives to bring broadband to all citizens.

SpaceX is eager to contribute to the cause. "SpaceX looks forward to being part of the solution to expand access to high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband internet connectivity in the United States and worldwide," Cooper said. The web of satellites proposed by SpaceX would bring faster and more robust web access to more people, so now it's just a matter of whether or not they'll get the governments go-ahead.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-john-galeon-9b086925/>)  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/domgaleon>)