Teledesic was a company founded in the 1990s with the ambitious goal of creating a commercial broadband satellite internet constellation, aiming to provide "fiber-like" internet access globally using low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Although the project was eventually suspended in 2002 due to financial and market challenges, it was notable for early funding from Bill Gates and Craig McCaw, with Boeing later becoming a prime contractor. The proposed network aimed to offer high-speed connectivity to businesses, schools, and individuals, utilizing Ka-band transmissions and advanced satellite technologies.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Amazon Leo argued that the Teledesic framework had never been applied to a milestone extension request in the 27 years since it was decided.
SpaceX invoked the FCC’s Teledesic framework in its opposition to Amazon Leo’s extension request.
Teledesic, founded in the 1990s by Bill Gates and Craig McCaw, aimed to build a $9 billion broadband satellite internet constellation with 288 planned low-Earth-orbiting satellites before the project was abandoned in 2003 after launching just one satellite.
Teledesic, an Internet-focused option, never flew due to technological and market reasons.
Teledesic was canceled during the dot-com bust after its proposed $10,000,000,000 satellite system was judged unlikely to deliver on its business plan.
Craig McCaw could not justify proceeding with the Teledesic project because the proposed $10,000,000,000 satellite system appeared unlikely to meet its business plan.