February’s been a big month for SpaceX. So you can be forgiven for not having heard about their huge impending satellite internet deal, yet.

On Wednesday, the wildcard aeronautics company secured FCC chairman Ajit Pai’s endorsement for a special application: to set up a broadband network, using satellites.

This support, hot on the heels of last week’s successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket into nearby orbit, marks a historic moment in Internet connectivity. Namely, finally overcoming connectivity issues by linking computers to broadband satellites, and doing away with cables.

But SpaceX does big things all the time, right? Why is this so important?

We’re glad you asked.

A Little History On The Topic

While it may seem strange, in modern society, many areas of the United States (let alone the world) still struggle to receive an optimized Internet connection. Some of them may get spotty, inconsistent reception that make phone calls, online work, and entertainment unreliable. Others, in more rural areas, may not be able to reach an Internet connection at all.

The problem lies with grounded connections, whether they be cabling (fibre optics) or radio (cell towers). These, while advanced, can still be hampered be degradation, weather conditions, and physical interference. Consider the news from 2014, when a significant portion of the global Internet’s cabling started coming under attack by sharks.

Not ideal.

Broadband connections via satellite would help bring the Internet to people in areas where connections previously never reached. All you need, now, is a router designed to interface with the broadband signal being sent down, and they would have truly wireless connectivity.

And SpaceX has just received an endorsement from the Federal Communications Commission Chairman to start building their network.

What Does This Mean For Business

The implications for businesses using this kind of network are far-reaching. With added connectivity, existing businesses will be able to reach expertise in otherwise closed off parts of America (and eventually the world), with ease.

More importantly, perhaps, new and emerging businesses will have access to resources and communications to help them in their formative years. Imagine being a startup company, out of a rented office in rural who-knows-where, and trying to do business over Skype calls that never last more than three minutes. Or wanting to learn JavaScript so you can move your freelancing to the big city, only every time you open Udemy, the video crashes.

With high speed satellite internet, available no matter where you are, there are more opportunities to do business, but also to grow.

We live in a modern era. Business shouldn’t be affected by something as silly as bad reception in a rural location.

When Is It Going To Happen?

The future is closer than you might think. After receiving the go-ahead from Pai on Wednesday, Musk’s company is a step closer to full-fledged approval from the FCC. In the meantime, SpaceX is making ready to launch the first set of experimental satellites into space this Saturday. The rocket, one of the company’s Falcon 9 models, will carry a PAZ satellite payload, and several smaller secondary payloads, as well.

And, while this falls in line with SpaceX head, Elon Musk’s plans to launch a satellite Internet business to help fund a city on Mars, the benefits here on Earth are clear.

In Conclusion

Aside from being a first-of-its-kind approval in favor of Internet connectivity, the real victory here is in connecting the world.

As more satellites are put into orbit, the hope is that broadband services like this could go global. Countries where infrastructure is poor could bring the web into their homes. Travelers could contact their families from continents away, without the need of a cell tower or fibre optic line.

With around 14 million rural Americans completely lacking mobile connectivity. Add an extra 1.2 million Americans on tribal lands, for good measure, and this change would be more than significant.

It would be revolutionary.

Godspeed, SpaceX. Our hopes and Internet connections are with you.