Internet satellites launched to help 'underconnected' countries connect log on Existing satellites generally obit at an altitude of some 22,000 miles above Earth, weigh in at a hefty four to six tonnes each, and take much longer to bounce a signal back to Earth, according to a background document compiled by O3b Networks. The new satellites, built by the Franco-Italian company Thales Alenia Space, will orbit at 8,062 km and will weigh only 650 kilogrammes (1,400 pounds) each. Crucially, they will communicate with Earth four times faster, said the company, and six would be enough to assure permanent coverage. "O3b's prices will be 30 - 50 percent less than traditional satellite services," said the document. And it added that a country like the Democratic Republic of Congo could move from being one of the most poorly-connected on Earth to one of the best. Project investors include Internet giant Google, cable company Liberty Global, satellite operator SES, HSBC bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The first four satellites had initially been scheduled to be sent into space on Monday but the launch was postponed due to bad weather. The next four satellites will be launched within weeks, according to Arianespace, and a final four "backup" orbiters early next year. To refine its coverage, the constellation could in the end have as many as 16 supplementary satellites in addition to the 12 main ones, said O3b Networks.