G.A. Viray
Since the access of Arpanet in 1981, the Internet has gone a long way and can now reach almost everyone in the world. As the technology advances, Internet giants like Google and Facebook have been finding ways, not just to reach everyone, but to reach people even in remote areas in the world.
Last June 2013, Google launched Project Loon which will use high-altitude balloons which is expected to create wireless network in 3G speeds by placing them in the stratosphere at an altitude of 32 km . According to the Verge, the balloons costs up to tens of thousands of dollars. It is also suspended between two solar panels that will collect energy to power its onboard systems. In March 2015, it has been reported that the newest record was that a balloon lasted for 187 days. The Project Loon sounds too good to be true, right? But there maybe something that is much better!
Last March 27, 2015, Mark Zuckerberg announced the successful test flight of Facebook’s solar powered drones that can stay at altitudes of about 60,000 to 90,000 feet for months at a time. These unmanned drones that were launched are going to have a final design which has a wingspan greater than a Boeing 737 (That’s 29 meters), but is lighter than a car.
Aircraft like these will help connect the whole world because they can affordably serve the 10% of the world’s population that live in remote communities without existing internet infrastructure.
So, how does Facebook’s solar drones compare with Google’s Loons? Google’s Loons measure about 15 meters across, while Facebook’s drones are greater than 29 meters. Google’s Loons depend on the wind for its navigation while Facebook is hoping to introduce a technology wherein one man can control about or even a hundred planes at a time. Now, that’s advanced technology! So, will Facebook’s drone pierce Google’s Loon’s down? That is only for us to find out in the future. Jay Parikh, Facebook Vice President of Engineering, told the Journal that there is no launch date yet as they need to adequately test safety and feasibility before drones offering Internet access are actually put into action.
We are sure many people will be excited for the launch of these drones, and with Filipinos as one of this technology’s recipients, the country is looking forward to the successful launching of Facebook’s solar-powered drones.
