35 balloons will fly over Kenya to set up a 4G Internet connection. The Alphabet firm is behind this project, the parent company of Google.
Concretely balloons are placed at high altitude in the atmosphere. Like a floating network of "cell phone towers," writes Loon CEO Alastair Westgarth on the firm's website. "Depending on their position, an air vehicle can alternate between active users," he explains. The balloons function as connecting links to transmit the Internet to other balloons, "or reposition themselves to return to the service area".
During the tests, "the Loon and Telkom teams used the service for all kinds of applications, including voice calls, video calls, YouTube, WhatsApp, emails, SMS, web browsing, etc. Says Alastair Westgarth. To make these services available to Kenyans, the firm has partnered with a local operator, Telkom Kenya.
A key device in the event of a disaster
The service covers an area of 50,000 square kilometers, in the western and central parts of the country ("including the regions of Iten, Eldoret, Baringo, Nakuru, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii, Bomet, Kericho and Narok", reads on Loon's blog).
The CEO of Loon recalls the interest of this type of installation, especially in the event of a natural disaster, like last year in Peru, where the Loon balloon network was able to provide "emergency services within 48 hours following an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. ”
High-Tech
Google co-founders leave Alphabet management and hand over to Sundar Pichai
Economy
6.8 million people in France do not have internet access
- Africa
- Telecommunications
- Network
- Communication
- Internet
- High-Tech
- 4G