CHRISTCHURCH - Google revealed top-secret plans
Saturday to send ballons to the edge of space with the
lofty aim of bringing Internet to the two-thirds of the
global population currently without web access.
Scientists from the technology giant released up to 30
helium-filled test balloons flying 20 kilometres (12.4
miles) above Christchurch in New Zealand, carrying
antennae linked to ground base stations.
While still in the early stages, “Project Loon” hopes
eventually to launch thousands of balloons to provide
Internet to remote parts of the world, allowing more
than four billion people with no access to get online.
“Project Loon is an experimental technology for balloon-
powered Internet access,” Google said in a statement.
“Balloons, carried by the wind at altitudes twice as high
as commercial planes, can beam Internet access to the
ground at speeds similar to today’s 3G networks or
faster.
“It is very early days, but we think a ring of balloons,
flying around the globe on the stratospheric winds,
might be a way to provide affordable Internet access to
rural, remote, and underserved areas down on earth
below, or help after disasters, when existing
communication infrastructure is affected.”
It works by ground stations connecting to the local
Internet infrastructure and beaming signals to the
balloons, which are self-powered by solar panels.
The balloons are then able to communicate with each
other, forming a mesh network in the sky.
Users below have Internet antennae they attach the side
of their house which can send and receive data signals
from the balloons passing overhead.
Some 50 people were chosen to take part in Saturday’s
trial and were able to link to the Internet.
The company’s ultimate goal is to have a ring of
balloons circling the Earth, ensuring there is no part of
the globe that can’t access the web.
“The idea may sound a bit crazy — and that’s part of
the reason we’re calling it Project Loon — but there’s
solid science behind it,” Google said.
But the company added: “This is still highly
experimental technology and we have a long way to
go.”
Source: www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/global-internet-access-google-to-beam-internet-from-balloons/

Wow,its time we really get some thru wi-fi(that's if it will get to this part of the world).just hope d existing network providers(especially MTN)does not jam d signalz thru d FG of Naija....just thinking loud.

Please google, start beaming over Nigeria and release us from the hegemony of mtn et al.

What about d nationwide wi-fi in london dey and microsoft talked about last year any progress on dat.well if dey can pull dis thru then kudos to dem.