The project is called the Hackerspace Global Grid and the goal is to launch an independent satellite into space. This is meant to “support unrestricted channels on the Internet” and will provide a connection to a series of independent ground stations. The net result is a “network of nodes completely independent from the Internet itself.” No censorship. No rules. No restrictions.

Naturally, the group is going to face more than its fair share of challenges. It has to build the infrastructure of terrestrial nodes, design and build the satellite itself, and then hitch a ride on someone else’s rocket so that they can get the pirate satellite into low-Earth orbit. That’s expensive and complicated, but once achieved, the possibilities are endless.  Think, unrestricted satellite telephones, VoIP and even cellular communications.

The project was pitched at the Chaos Communications Congress in Berlin, a hacker conference hosted by the German Chaos Computer Club. Keep up with their progress on the official HGG wiki.

The post Hackers To Build Pirate Internet With Pirate Satellites appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

There are about 5 billion people in the world who don’t have internet access. Charity group A Human Right believes that access to information is a fundamental human right – and wants to offer free internet to everyone by buying a satellite.

A Human Right decided to purchase a satellite following the uprising against Mubarak in Egypt, when the government ordered internet service providers to disconnect from the internet. The group is looking into purchasing the TerreStar-1 satellite (used by AT&T for the Terrestar Genius Satellite Phone). Terrestar-1 is the largest commercial telecommunications satellite in space.

They estimated the full project will cost $245 million. As of press time, A Human Right has managed to raise $53,996. TerreStar has not actually placed the satellite for sale, and is currently restructuring. This is not the group’s only option, according to A Human Right’s blog, several satellite owners have offered the use of their satellites to support the group, and they’re in the process of negotiating.  The end result will be free Internet for the world.

[The Raw Story via BuyThisSatellite.org, A Human Right]

The post Free Internet FTW appeared first on Mobile Magazine.