Project Loon

Google talks Loon and connectivity at AfricaCom

At a busy keynote session at AfricaCom in Cape Town this morning, Google’s South Africa Country manager Luke Mckend talked about some of the ways in which the internet giant is looking to help bring connectivity to the continent.

Google’s floating cellular network and MVNO expected

Google’s SVP of Products, Sundar Pichai, confirmed in his speech at MWC that the OTT giant is in advanced testing of its floating cellular network, consisting of inflatable balloons and lightweight solar-powered planes. Projects “Loon” and “Titan”, respectively, are in the early phases of testing, but Pichai believes the two projects will provide a portable “mesh of floating cell towers”. He also confirmed the long-anticipated rumour that Google is looking to launch an MVNO in the US.

Google patent may reveal original intent of Project Loon

A recently awarded patent for dynamically addressing bandwidth demand using internet access points attached to helium-filled balloons, may shed new light on how Google either intends to deploy (and monetise) innovations developed from Project Loon. As one might suspect, its use cases extend beyond humanitarian applications.

Google balloon-based connectivity project takes to skies

Google is embarking on an ambitious project to provide wireless internet connectivity to hard to reach or extremely rural areas using hot air balloons. The firm said the project is aimed to get bring fast and affordable internet to those for whom it is out of reach.