Google’s Project Loon certainly fits the definition of a moonshot project that sounded like one crazy idea when it first surfaced. However, the concept of using high-altitude balloons to make Internet access available to remote areas of the globe has turned into a viable project. Reports out of India indicate Google is now ready to commence testing on a large-scale pilot program as soon as a local telco partner can be secured.
Google has effectively ironed out issues with launching balloons and then keeping them aloft and under control. The Project Loon team can quickly get a new balloon in the air and they can keep them in-flight for at least 100 days at a time. Google also conducted a small test in Australia with Telstra to further prove the concept will work. The next step is conducting a large scale pilot program.
Sources think Google is in talks with BSNL in India, although that information has not been confirmed. Google’s director for South East Asia and India, Rajan Anandan, did indicate that Project Loon “at a simplistic level, it is infrastructure in the sky. And we’ll partner with a local telco. Because the actual provisioning of the service is done by a local telco. So we’re talking to a number of local telcos.” Andandan also indicated the Indian government has been very supportive of what Google is working on and trying to achieve with Project Loon.
source: The Economic Times
via: Engadget
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