16-07-2016, 10:14 PM
12
Re: Looney Internet Is Coming
Originally Posted by JBR
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What these balloons could do is already being done by satellites, isn't it? I suppose the advantage is that balloons are cheaper than satellites.
Would they be more vulnerable ?
17-07-2016, 12:46 AM
13
Re: Looney Internet Is Coming
It's a nonsense to think that these things will replace landbased internet. Fibre is far quicker and, more importantly, has vastly greater capacity.Look at your PO Tower in London, notice the lack of aerials? Radio technology inevitably runs out of capacity as it does it slows down.
In remote areas here Internet is by satellite, it is slow and clunky; part because of the distance the signal has to travel partly because of capacity constraints BUT it is better than nothing. Being better than nothing is the only advantage of these balloons.
17-07-2016, 08:05 AM
14
Re: Looney Internet Is Coming
Originally Posted by Realist
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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.
17-07-2016, 10:18 AM
16
Re: Looney Internet Is Coming
Originally Posted by JBR
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What these balloons could do is already being done by satellites, isn't it? I suppose the advantage is that balloons are cheaper than satellites.
It's a slam dunk project in terms of costs vs satellites
17-07-2016, 10:33 AM
17
Re: Looney Internet Is Coming
Originally Posted by Bruce
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It's a nonsense to think that these things will replace landbased internet. Fibre is far quicker and, more importantly, has vastly greater capacity.
Loon was first announced in 2013. By 2015 last year they had already achieved speeds of 1-2 MBs
Google chief said:
"The balloons are delivering 10x more bandwidth, 10x steer-ability, and are staying up 10x as long"
An article published back in 2014 said:
"Google executives are hoping that Project Loon balloons may be able to provide 22 MB/s of download speed to a ground antenna and 5 MB/s to a mobile device directly. Google is hoping that by 2015 there are around 300 to 400 balloons in the air at any given point of time."
I have to say that my own landline broadband is still in the 2-3MBs speed range so Loon would be better is those numbers are true.
On Google's website today they say:
"We expect Internet speeds similar to that of current LTE/4G networks"
17-07-2016, 07:40 PM
18
Re: Looney Internet Is Coming
Originally Posted by Realist
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Perhaps yes, though I expect Loon will evolve quickly over time. It does plan to partner with existing telecoms providers to use some of their infrastructure but the future potential is clear to see.Loon was first announced in 2013. By 2015 last year they had already achieved speeds of 1-2 MBs
Google chief said:
"The balloons are delivering 10x more bandwidth, 10x steer-ability, and are staying up 10x as long"
An article published back in 2014 said:
"Google executives are hoping that Project Loon balloons may be able to provide 22 MB/s of download speed to a ground antenna and 5 MB/s to a mobile device directly. Google is hoping that by 2015 there are around 300 to 400 balloons in the air at any given point of time."
I have to say that my own landline broadband is still in the 2-3MBs speed range so Loon would be better is those numbers are true.
On Google's website today they say:
"We expect Internet speeds similar to that of current LTE/4G networks"
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