Next Frontier for the Internet

DARPA, the government agency credited with inventing the internet, is looking to bring the technology to space. More precisely, it is looking to develop a dependable and fast wireless network using satellites.  Broadband satellite technology has existed for many years, but the quality of service is inferior compared to that delivered by terrestrial providers. Last week, DARPA took the first step in developing "persistent broadband ground connectivity for spacecraft in low-Earth orbit." They hope to have a system operational by 2013 that will allow for two-way connectivity at speeds of 100kbps or higher with latency of less than one second.

It is no easy task, but if DARPA is successful it will allow people in rural areas, where there are few to no internet providers, to access an internet connection that is as fast and reliable as that enjoyed by people in more urban settings.