Project Loon launches balloon-based internet into the stratosphere

project loon brings internet to people all over the world

Two of three people in the world don’t have internet access. That means 2 out of 3 people can’t Google whatever they imagine. They can’t connect to Facebook, they can’t use Instagram and then there are the basics like banking, education, healthcare. Imagine doing anything today without internet?

project loon brings internet to people all over the world

High altitude balloons invented by Google’s elite Alphabet group and named Project Loon will do just that. The company is building high altitude balloons that fly in the stratosphere to deliver Internet to all.

project loon brings internet to people all over the world


project loon brings internet to people all over the worldMade from sheets of polyethylene, each tennis court sized balloon is built to last more than 100 days in the stratosphere before returning to the ground in a controlled descent.

Project Loon has taken the most essential components of a cell tower and redesigned them to be light enough and durable enough to be carried by a balloon 20 km up in the stratosphere. All the equipment is highly energy-efficient and is powered entirely by renewable energy – with solar panels powering daytime operations and charging a battery for use during the night.

Their custom-built Autolaunchers are designed to launch Loon balloons safely and reliably at scale. Huge side panels provide protection from the wind as the balloon is filled and lifted into launch position, and then the crane is pointed downwind to smoothly release the balloon up into the stratosphere. Each crane is capable of filling and launching a new balloon into the Loon network every 30 minutes.

The signals are like Wi-Fi boosters that pass the internet signals from one balloon to the next.

In New Zealand they are working with Vodaphone to pilot the technology. Project updates suggest that progress is being made despite Google cutting back on the idea.

From TechCrunch: 



Facebook Comments



Leave a Reply


6 + two =