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Free Internet From Google Balloons

Loon Project went through crucial test and the technology can sustainably make money from providing free internet and Adwords for mobile p...

Loon Project went through crucial test and the technology can sustainably make money from providing free internet and Adwords for mobile phones

The company has a 2 year old project to provide free high speed internet access via balloons – and it’s at a very advanced stage. Now many are pondering: Will the free internet from Google balloons disrupt mobile phone companies to the point of death? Is Google going to kill mobile phone companies with internet balloons? It's very possibly!

Ostensibly this is to provide internet access to parts of the world that don’t currently have it – but there may be a more disruptive reason. If you have high speed internet everywhere in the world (totally feasible as Google have got Loon balloons already well tested) then why do you need a mobile phone company? Google would provide totally free calls and make money on selling advertising via Adwords for Mobile.

Google’s internet balloon is preparing for its first commercial test in partnership with Telekom Kenya, the country’s third biggest telecom firm, Reuters reports. The trial will let mountain villagers buy 4G services for an as yet undefined period. The project is expected to receive final approval from Kenya’s aviation authority this month.

The pilot, whenever it finally launches, will be a crucial test for internet balloons, which were originally conceived as a way to bring internet connectivity to remote areas. The high-altitude balloons create an aerial wireless network that communicates with an antenna system on the ground, powered by solar cells. There have been successful early (noncommercial) tests of the technology in Peru and Puerto Rico.

The Loon project has faced a number of problems. The balloons only last a few months before deteriorating, for example, and work only in sunny places because they rely on solar energy.
Since Loon was conceived back in 2011, a growing number of companies have been racing to provide broadband connectivity from space, which may prove a more viable way of getting internet access to hard-to-reach places.

The Loon project has faced a number of problems. The balloons only last a few months before deteriorating, for example, and work only in sunny places because they rely on solar energy.

Since Loon was conceived back in 2011, a growing number of companies have been racing to provide broadband connectivity from space, which may prove a more viable way of getting internet access to hard-to-reach places.