Project Loon

Google, under its 'Project Loon', is using big balloons floating at a height of 20 km above the Earth's surface for transmission of Internet services. It has already tested this technology in New Zealand, California, and Brazil. "Google approached [the] government to set up the Loon project and drone-based Internet transmission. Government has approved testing of Loon project only as of now. A committee under chairmanship of Secretary, DeitY, has been formed to work on it," according to PTI.

Google may initially partner with BSNL for testing this technology by using broadband spectrum in 2.6GHz band. When contacted, a Google spokesperson refused to comment. The technology, used for 4G services, has potential to replace mobile towers as it can directly transmit signals on 4G mobile phones.

The project began with a pilot test in New Zealand in 2013 and subsequently in countries like the United States of America, Australia and Brazil. The project could be said to have begun as part of the disaster management and relief operation after New Zealand witnessed a major earthquake in 2011. The earthquake had led to destruction of various services related to internet in the affected area. There was a need to make the connectivity available in a very short duration and Google used the region as a test-bed to validate its technology, thus writes Ajey Lele in Idsa.in.

Project Loon began with a pilot test in June 2013, when thirty balloons were launched from New Zealand’s South Island and beamed Internet to a small group of pilot testers. The pilot test has since expanded to include a greater number of people over a wider area. Looking ahead, Project Loon will continue to expand the pilot, with the goal of establishing a ring of uninterrupted connectivity at latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, so that pilot testers in these latitudes can receive continuous service via balloon-powered Internet.

Project Loon balloons travel approximately 20 km above the Earth’s surface in the stratosphere. Winds in the stratosphere are stratified, and each layer of wind varies in speed and direction. Project Loon uses software algorithms to determine where its balloons need to go, then moves each one into a layer of wind blowing in the right direction. By moving with the wind, the balloons can be arranged to form one large communications network.