Google's Project Loon Takes to the Skies

The Internet has been a transformative technology for many people around the world, but not everyone. In fact, for about half of the people on our planet, a fast, affordable Internet connection is still out of reach. Giving new meaning to the term "cloud computing" Google's Project Loon is aiming to do something about that.

Project Loon is targeted to provide high-speed Internet service to remote regions of the world via swarms of helium-filled balloons circling the globe on stratospheric winds. After a series of setbacks, the service is finally going to be tested by carriers this year. And, Google has started testing Project Loon in Sri Lanka, after making a deal for spectrum with the government.

Sri Lanka's government has announced that it will have a 25 percent stake in a joint venture with Google, in return for allocating spectrum for the project.  According to ZDNet:

"The first of three balloons slated for the trial drifted into Sri Lankan airspace on Monday, after being launched from South America, Sri Lanka's Information and Communication Technology Agency chief Muhunthan Canagey told AFP. Google is expected to begin testing flight controls, spectrum efficacy and other technical issues later this week. ..Service providers would be able to deliver higher speeds by using the connectivity beamed down from Google's balloons, which float about 20km up in the stratosphere."

 Previous trials have taken place in Indonesia and Australia, and it's clear Google means to advance this project around the world.

Image Credit: Google