Total Pageviews

Friday 4 December 2015

Project Loon - Internet via Balloon

When we think of internet we feel we are connected to entire world and world is connected to us.But two-thirds of the world’s population does not yet have Internet access.

Project loon: In 2008, Google had considered contracting with or acquiring Space Data Corp., a company that sends balloons carrying small base stations about 20 miles (32 km) up in the air for providing connectivity to truckers and oil companies in the southern United States, but didn't do so.
Unofficial development on the project began in 2011 under incubation in Google X with a series of trial runs in California's Central Valley. The project was officially announced as a Google project on 14 June 2013.


Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after disasters.
Project Loon balloons float in the stratosphere, twice as high as airplanes and the weather. In the stratosphere, there are many layers of wind, and each layer of wind varies in direction and speed. Loon balloons go where they’re needed by rising or descending into a layer of wind blowing in the desired direction of travel.



The balloons typically have a maximum life of about 100 days, although Google claims that its tweaked design can enable them to stay aloft for closer to 200 days.

                                 


By partnering with Telecommunications companies to share cellular spectrum people will be enabled to connect to the balloon network directly from their phones and other LTE-enabled devices. The signal is then passed across the balloon network and back down to the global Internet on Earth.
Google uses solar panel and wind to power electronic equipment in the balloon throughout the day.


Google is now working with the Indian government on a pilot project for providing Internet connectivity by using large balloons.Technology has already been tested in New Zealand, California and Brazil.
Google may initially partner with BSNL for testing this technology by using broadband spectrum in 2.6 Ghz band. No official comment from google as of now.
ToI informs that Google approached the government for approval to offer Internet via balloons and drones. A committee under the chairmanship of secretary, DeitY has been formed to work on it. The committee formed by DeitY (Department of Electronics and Information Technology) will study various aspects of the Project Loon. It will identify the locations for the trials of the service and also act as a mediator for communication and coordination among various Government departments and agencies.

Source:PTI,ToI,Google
For detailed info: http://www.google.co.in/loon/

No comments:

Post a Comment