Teledesic was a company founded in the late 1990s with the ambitious goal of creating a network of low-Earth orbit satellites that would provide global internet connectivity. The company was founded by Craig McCaw, a pioneer in the cellular phone industry, and Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft.

 

The idea behind Teledesic was to create a network of 288 satellites that would orbit the Earth at an altitude of around 700 miles. These satellites would communicate with each other using lasers, creating a high-speed data network that would be accessible from anywhere on the planet. The network would be able to provide internet connectivity to remote areas that were not served by traditional wired or wireless networks.

 

The Teledesic project was highly ambitious, and it faced a number of technical and financial challenges. In order to build and launch the network of satellites, Teledesic needed to raise billions of dollars in capital. The company also had to develop new technologies in areas such as satellite communications, laser communications, and satellite manufacturing.

 

Despite these challenges, Teledesic attracted a lot of interest and investment from some of the world's leading technology companies and investors. In addition to Microsoft and Craig McCaw's own company, McCaw Cellular, Teledesic received backing from companies such as Boeing, Motorola, and Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.

 

Teledesic's plans were ultimately derailed by a number of factors. The company faced technical challenges in developing the laser communication technology needed to link the satellites together. It also faced regulatory hurdles, as some countries were concerned about the potential security implications of a global satellite network.

 

In addition to these challenges, Teledesic faced competition from other companies that were pursuing similar goals. One of the most notable of these companies was Iridium, which launched a network of 66 satellites that provided global satellite phone service.

 

Teledesic ultimately suspended operations in 2002, after it became clear that the project was no longer financially viable. Despite its failure to achieve its goals, Teledesic remains an important part of the history of the internet and of space exploration. The project demonstrated the potential of satellite technology to provide global connectivity, and it paved the way for future efforts to create global internet networks using satellites.

 

A demonstration satellite for the Teledesic constellation, originally labeled Broadband Advanced Technologies Satellite (BATSAT), and later renamed Teledesic 1, was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Pegasus-XL launch vehicle on 26 February 1998.