In a [blog post](https://blockstream.com/2018/12/17/Blockstream-satellite-asia-pacific-phase-2-coverage/) published on the company page, Blockstream announced two major milestones a couple of hours ago:

1. It added Asia-Pacific to its network of Bitcoin powered satellites
2. The Satellite API will be launched in January 2019

If the first one looked more or less predictable, since Blockstream already had a web of Bitcoin powered satellites overseeing Europe and North America, the second one is a bit intriguing. According to the same source:

> Via the Satellite API, users can broadcast unencrypted data to everyone with a satellite receiver or target specific users by using encryption. Combined with the Lightning Network’s onion-routed payments, it will be possible to send totally private messages where no one can identify the sender, the receiver, or the content of the message.

The data transmission will be made possible via Lightning Network and it will include a bidding mechanism and some sort of restrictions (here's [the link](https://www.blockstream.com/satellite-documentation/) if you want to have a look at the API calls).

In other words, there is now a completely decentralized, fully secure communication network of satellites around the Earth, that you can use with Bitcoin. 

In my humble opinion, that's the most spectacular use case for Bitcoin, as a currency.
***
_I'm a serial entrepreneur, blogger and ultrarunner. You can find me mainly on my blog at [Dragos Roua](http://dragosroua.com) where I write about productivity, business, relationships and running. Here on Steemit you may stay updated by following me @dragosroua._
<center>
![Dragos Roua](http://dragosroua.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bamf-e1448824881306.png)</center>
<hr/>
<center>
<h2>Wanna know when you're getting paid?</h2>
</center>
<table width="100%">
<tr>
<td width="50%" align=left>
<img src ="https://steemitimages.com/DQmY5EgrAesnAbWyBazuHaA2Rqb2y9kkJjX4SkGq4NqA9b1/Screen%20Shot%202018-02-16%20at%2011.30.44%20AM.png" width="250" height="100">
</td>
<td width="50%" valign="top">
I know the feeling. That's why I created <a href="http://steem.supply" target="_new">steem.supply</a>, an easy to use and accurate tool for calculating your Steemit rewards
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
</table>
<center><h2>It's free to use, but if you think this is a useful addition, I'd appreciate your <a href="https://steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=dragosroua&approve=1" target="_new">witness vote</a>.</h2>
<h1>Thank you!</h1>
</center>

<center>
<h1> Psst: new to Steemit? <a href=https://steemit.com/@dragosroua/the-7-fundamental-questions-about-steemit>Start Here</a></h1>
</center>