O3b Networks launches the first of its High Speed Internet Satellites

Named for the "Other 3 billion"; O3b which was was founded in 2007, has successfully launched the first 4 satellites comprising their high-speed satellite Internet access system.  They also have plans to launch 4 more satellites by the end of 2013.  The 8 satellites will orbit at about 8,000km in a medium Earth orbit satellite constellation.

The company, which has raised over $1B USD so far, includes a variety of partners such as Liberty Global, Allen and Company, Google, HSBC, and SES World Skies - and plans to provide high-speed low-latency communication services for areas of the globe that lack suitable 3G services; and can act as a back-haul for these areas as an alternative to typical fiber-optic back-hauls.

The company is offering corporate networking at rates of 100, 150, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000Mbs, and has already signed contracts to provide Internet services in portions of Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.  They have also signed a deal with Royal Caribbean to provide high-speed Internet for it's cruise ships.

The launch was made with the Soyuz-STB/Fregat-MT rocket, with the next launch scheduled for September 2013.