Google is moving ahead with Project Loon, a plan to use high-altitude balloons to provide Internet access to remote areas.
But there are some challenges ahead before the project goes mainstream.
The history of Google’s moonshot project to provide global Internet access using high-altitude balloons goes back nearly 1800 years, according to Google[x] chief technical architect Rich Devaul. That’s when, according to legend, a Chinese general sent a floating lantern into the sky to call for more troops.
Devaul first began to consider how to blanket the world with balloon-based wireless Internet closer to a decade ago, when he was at the MIT Media Lab. “I got as far as a napkin sketch,” Devaul says. “No balloons were inflated at that time.”
The fundamental insight that would fuel the now (literally) full-blown project at Google[x] was of the “fast, cheap and out of control” variety. “Many people had proposed using either tethered balloons or stratospheric airships,” Devaul says. “I decided that maybe that’s not the right problem to solve.” Instead, he wondered, what if the problem was figuring out how to keep the globe covered with a network of constantly moving untethered balloons?
The fruit of that idea is “Project Loon,” which launched its first public trial last month in New Zealand, using 30 balloons to try to bring wireless signals to 50 testers including sheep-farming entrepreneur Charles Nimmo.
“Many of our flights did really exactly what we thought they would do,” says Devaul. But some, notably, did not, and their unexpected travels reveal the challenges ahead
The Latest Bing News on:
Project Loon
- Pacton Recieves Drill Permit for Claremont East at Red Lake Gold Project, Ontarioon May 18, 2022 at 5:32 am
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 18, 2022 / Pacton Gold Inc. (TSXV:PAC)(OTC PINK:PACXF)(FSE:2NKN) (the “Company” or “Pacton”) is pleased to announce it has received its early exploration permit for ...
- The Fail-Safer Approach: Make Your Work Environment Safer for Failureon May 17, 2022 at 6:06 pm
A "fail-safer" environment isn't safe from failure. It encourages it. It's not done by sweeping disasters under the rug. It's also not done by downplaying or discounting failures with rationalizations ...
- Pacton Provides Consultation Update with Red Lake First Nationson May 17, 2022 at 5:31 am
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 17, 2022 / Pacton Gold Inc. (TSXV:PAC)(OTC PINK:PACXF)(FSE:2NKN) (the “Company” or “Pacton”) is pleased to provide an update on First Nations and community ...
- Did you see it? Photographer catches balloon above East TNon May 12, 2022 at 1:54 pm
According to Flight Aware, the only ballon above East Tennessee tonight is a ballon from Project Loon. Its altitude is 65,500 ft and it is traveling around 10 mph. Project Loon was begun by Google ...
- East Tennessee ‘UFO’ identity a mysteryon May 12, 2022 at 10:28 am
East Tennesseans were surprised to see a mystery flying object flying high above Wednesday night. The object appeared to be a circle of lights and caused several viewers to call into WVLT’s newsroom ...
- ‘UFO’ captures attention above East Tennesseeon May 12, 2022 at 7:08 am
East Tennesseans were surprised to see a mystery flying object flying high above Wednesday night. The object appeared to be a circle of lights and caused several viewers to call into WVLT’s newsroom ...
- Loons are migrating back to Vermont lakes and ponds after wintering off the coaston May 11, 2022 at 2:59 pm
Known for their red eyes and haunting calls, the birds were a rare sight in Vermont several decades ago — but they’ve rebounded.
- Developer pitches 105-unit townhouse project near Lovers Creek wetlands in south end Barrieon May 9, 2022 at 7:28 am
Yet another development could soon be abutting the backyards of Loon Avenue residents. Barrie’s planning committee hosted a public meeting recently for a 105-unit subdivision proposed by ...
- Project Loon Will Float LTE To Puerto Ricoon May 7, 2022 at 4:59 pm
The newest name on the list? The X division of Alphabet, who want to help fill the huge communications gap using Project Loon, their high-altitude balloon network. It looks like X is going to get ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Project Loon
The Latest Bing News on:
Internet access to remote areas
- How will $100M from Internet for All impact PA? Wolf visits Bellefonte school to tout initiativeon May 18, 2022 at 12:49 pm
a school psychologist for the Bellefonte Area School District, has experienced firsthand the impact unreliable internet access can have on students, parents and teachers. Miller’s family has been ...
- OneWeb and Telefónica pledge to hook up remote areason May 13, 2022 at 8:10 am
Low Earth Orbit satellite firm OneWeb and operator Telefónica have teamed up to bring network connectivity to rural and remote parts of Europe and Latin America.
- Elon Musk's SpaceX expands Starlink satellite internet service to more than 30 countrieson May 13, 2022 at 4:08 am
Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX, is now available in more than 30 countries, the billionaire businessman said on Friday.People who want to ...
- It’s long past time for all families to have access to high-speed internet (Editorial)on May 11, 2022 at 2:31 am
It took a great deal of work, and quite a long time, to bring power to all the people. Today, of course, we cannot imagine how anyone ever lived without electric power. Soon enough, it may be - and ...
- New White House deal brings low-cost internet to more areason May 10, 2022 at 8:52 am
The White House has just announced a deal with some of the largest internet providers in the country. The goal: Affordable, high-speed internet for everyone.
- Biden Starts Program to Provide Discounted Internet Serviceon May 9, 2022 at 12:51 pm
Internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to people with low incomes through the Affordable Connectivity Program program ...
- Remote Quebec homes getting high-speed internet access with Elon Musk's Starlinkon May 9, 2022 at 10:21 am
Quebec says it will use the services of Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk to connect thousands of remote homes in the province to high-speed internet by the end of September. The provincial government ...
- Telcos urged to upgrade internet services in rural, remote areason May 3, 2022 at 5:00 pm
in the country to be more proactive in upgrading internet services at existing telecommunication towers, especially in rural and remote areas. He said more proactive participation from the telcos ...
- How to hike safely in remote areason April 26, 2022 at 9:22 pm
Pack a road map showing the way to the trail and a map of the park itself. Remote areas may not have the best internet connections, rendering car GPS systems useless. And a printed map of the park ...
- Vermont’s internet access problems reflect a greater struggle across rural Americaon April 13, 2022 at 6:51 am
The DSL service she has now works for basic internet, but it can be spotty and it doesn't allow users to access all the benefits ... to residents of the remote area known as the Northeast Kingdom.
