Backed by telecommunications pioneer Craig McCaw and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, the Teledesic Network will provide two-way, broadband network connections through service partners in host countries worldwide.

Essentially a global, broadband "Internet-in-the-sky," the Teledesic Network emulates the most famous distributed network, the Internet, while adding the benefits of real-time capability and location-insensitive access.

The constellation is organized into 21 circular orbit planes that are staggered in altitude between 695 and 705 km.

Each plane contains a minimum of 40 operational satellites plus up to four on-orbit spares spaced evenly around the orbit. As the satellite planes orbit north-to-south and south-to-north, the Earth rotates underneath

The system design is costly however because of the 175 rockets that might be required to launch the fleet, as well as the need to constantly track these satellites.

Because of their Low Earth Orbit, their orbits would decay relatively quickly, so some would fall before the whole fleet was sent up.