Satellite company O3b Networks has linked up with Google and other investors to bring cheaper high-speed wireless Internet access via 16 satellites to areas unlikely to see investments in fiber infrastructure.

O3b stands for “other 3 billion,” a reference to the world’s population that still can’t access the Internet. O3b’s service should be activated by late 2010 and provide speeds of up to 10G bps to Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.