Google unveiled its latest ambitious project Saturday as the search engine giant attempts to bring internet access to thousands in remote regions of the world via a network of hot air balloons.
Where it began
Project Loon’s preliminary testing began this month when 30 helium balloons carrying antennas launched from New Zealand’s South Island into the stratosphere. They beamed internet acccess to a group of testers on the ground.
The result: A farmer who signed up for the pilot test received internet access for approximately 15 minutes from a balloon floating by his home.
How it works
Made of thin polyethylene film, the balloons are 15 metres in diameter and can float approximately 20 kilometres above the earth (an altitude twice as high as airplanes). The balloons are carried by wind and steered by ground technicians who adjust their altitudes to keep them on course.
Back on earth, homes connect to the network via an internet antenna that is attached to their building.
The signal communicates between balloons and then down to a ground station, which is connected to the local internet provider.
The balloons are solar-powered to generate electricity for the circuit boards, radios, and flight equipment.
Each balloon provides internet service for about 2,020 square kilometres.
Destinations
Ultimately, the goal of Project Loon is to bring internet to two-thirds of the world’s population who are not yet connected, including in places in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Approximately 4.8 billion of the world’s population is not connected while the remaining 2.2 billion are online.
Google says the company’s goal is to expand Project Loon so the balloons number in the thousands.
