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Facebook is testing a revolutionary internet service

Mark Zuckerberg
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Robert Galbraith/Reuters

Starry, the startup that just two weeks ago revealed its ambitious plan to offer superfast wireless broadband to homes across the US, may have some company.

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Facebook is working on similar technology to build a network, according to The Verge's Russell Brandom. The Verge dug up patent documents filed by a Facebook employee that show the company is toying with millimeter wave technology, which is what Starry plans to use to broadcast internet.

Facebook told The Verge that the patents were related to the company's Connectivity Lab, a division of Facebook that is working on finding ways to deliver internet around the world. 

Millimeter wave technology is capable of delivering gigabit internet speeds, which is several times faster than standard internet speeds. It's fast enough to let you download a full two-hour movie in just a few seconds.

The Connectivity Lab is actually part of Internet.org, the Facebook initiative to bring internet to the billions of people who don't yet have access. Another Connectivity Lab project is Aquila Unmanned Aircraft, solar-powered drones that fly at 60,000 feet and use infrared laser beams to broadcast internet.

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Facebook did not immediately return requests for comment from Tech Insider. We'll update the post if we hear from either company.

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