NDM Post 21

Google to test-fly balloons which transmit internet over Australia

This article is about Google X next venture after the Google Glasses and the driver-less cars.Project Loon, Internet balloons, beaming 4g like signal to homes and phone, using antennas that each balloon is carrying, at twice the altitude of passenger jet. In December Google in partnership with Telstra will test 20 balloons in western Queensland they hope to create a ring around the earth with these balloons bringing internet to the estimated two-thirds of people who are presently unwired and one day provde coverage to areas struck by natural disasters. telstra will provide base station to communicate to the balloon and access to space on the radio spectrum.

1. Web-connected base stations bounce signals up to the balloons, which float at about twice the altitude of passenger jets.

2. The signals hop forward from one balloon to the next.

3. Each balloon transmits internet signals down to an area more than twice the size of Canberra.

4. Card table-sized solar panel powers on-board gadgetry. Balloons can stay airborne for about 100 days.

5. Plan is for a ring of balloons to circle the Earth on westerly stratospheric winds.

The idea of providing the internet using balloons is brilliant as its claimed in one of their hopes that people can have access to the internet in areas which have been struck by natural disasters and in developing countries underground fibre caballing will not be required eliminating the costly process which is needed to fit them underground.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/17/google-test-fly-balloons-transmit-internet-australia