Google’s Project Loon began its operations in Sri Lanka after first helium-filled balloon landed in Pupuressa area in Gampola town.
It was one of three balloons that were put up in Sri Lankan airspace for trials to provide high-speed internet service after it was launched from South America.
About Google’s Project Loon
- Project Loon is a pet project of search engine giant Google for providing Internet access to rural and remote areas using high-altitude helium-filled balloons.
- These balloons will be placed at an altitude of about 18 km in the stratosphere where wind speed is low and turbulence is minimum.
- Each balloon can provide full wireless broadband internet coverage up to an area of 40 km and are powered mainly by solar panels.
- These balloons have transceivers which can connect to cell phone networks in order to fill the gaps in their networks especially in remote areas such as mountains and deserts.
- It promises to extend mobile and data coverage at cheaper rates for the people. These balloons will have a lifespan of about 180 days and can be recycled.
Some facts: Sri Lanka was the first country in South Asia region to introduce mobile phones in 1989 and also first to roll out a 3G network in 2004. It was also the first in the region to unveil a 4G network in 2013.