Eutelsat, Facebook Plan Data Connectivity in Africa

Eutelsat and Facebook plan to use Spacecom's forthcoming AMOS-6 satellite as the foundation for joint plan to provide broadband services to much of Sub-Saharan Africa, Eutelsat said in a Monday news release. AMOS-6 is to launch by year end, and Eutelsat and Facebook will share its entire broadband capacity as part of the dedicated system they planned, which also includes gateways and terminals that would provide community and direct-to-user Internet, Eutelsat said. The companies will provide a variety of fixed and mobile Internet services, the satellite company said. Eutelsat said it's establishing a London-based company -- headed by former Tiscali International Network CEO Laurent Grimaldi -- to oversee its African broadband plans and business targeting the premium and professional segments.