Looney Internet Is Coming

The future of internet is in the sky, not in digging up roads and laying clunky cables.

Enter the "Google Loon" project.

Being trialled as we speak, Google plans to deploy balloons on the edge of space which will bring internet connectivity to all, thereby filling the current coverage gaps in rural areas and other parts of the world that don't yet have internet.
It will also help keep people connected in the event of disasters.



Read the full scoop here:

https://www.google.com/loon/

This could have a significant impact on national broadband providers like BT, Virgin and Vodafone.

Maybe time to think about buying Google shares.

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

The sooner the better - f*** BT.

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

Yep, time BT's abused monopoly was challenged but giving Google even more power is slightly worrying

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

Terrifying

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

What if you haven't got electricity to power PCs, laptops and tablets etc to access these balloons?

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

The web site states that the balloons obtain their power from solar cells that can generate 100W. This may be OK to power electronic controls and servos, for rising and falling for example, and to charge batteries for use overnight, but would that be sufficient power to transmit radio signals to earth over a wide area?

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

Good idea. Our internet is appalling.

I haven't much of a clue when it comes to techie stuff anyway.

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

Those who wisely anticipate the shut down of the electric grid (and other services) in the near future, will own portable solar panel gadgets which are light and can charge an average smart phone up in hours.

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

But the advertising blurb features their (balloons) use in remote locations such as sub-Saharan Africa where electricity is non-existent and the populations are too poor to have solar panels even if phones and tablets are donated to schools for the benefit of children.

Re: Looney Internet Is Coming

Once the tech is tested and rolled out it will inevitably replace existing broadband across the globe. It's a no brainer. Existing telecoms companies are currently saddled with huge costs for laying and maintaining cables under the roads, maintaining exchanges and hubs and all manner of other equipment.

This is a bit like the difference between a landline phone and a mobile phone. What use do we really currently have for landlines? They are there in case of emergency in many cases, seldom used as most of us can be contacted on mobiles.

Which is easier, installing and maintaining cables and landlines in to every home in the country, or maintaining a few 3G/4G masts which everyone can connect to through the ether?

Google will gain a monopoly very quickly once the technology is proven. They will use their existing power and wealth to vastly undercut BT, Virgin, Vodafone and the other suppliers and thereby offer mobile and broadband packages without all the costs of cables and otehr infrastructure. Yes they will have the costs of balloons and the rest but my guess is in the long run they will be quids in.