Watch out Project Loon, it looks like you are not the only Internet-in-the-sky game in town. Facebook has its eyes on delivering internet connectivity to remote areas and it’s trying to one-up Google’s similar plan, with what could potentially be a huge boost for the Internet.org venture.
Techcrunch says that Mark Zuckerberg & Co are in talks with drone maker Titan Aerospace to bring their solar-powered UAVs onboard for the ambitious plan of bringing the next 5 billion people online. Facebook, driven by Zuckerberg, is one of the leading companies invested in the Internet.org project and these drones would fit right in their plan. The website says its sources have revealed the price for this acquisition to be around $60 million, which, if true, is significantly less than what the company paid to acquire WhatsApp.
Facebook will reportedly start the Internet-providing drone project in Africa with 11,000 Solara 60 UAVs. The video below gives us a better idea of what to expect from the Salora 60. It is said to be able to fly out in night, powered by internal battery packs and can then use solar power to stay flying for up to five years at an altitude of 20km above sea level, similar to Project Loon. Google launched Project Loon last year and the pilot programme is currently underway in New Zealand.
Titan Aerospace is a privately-held venture with R&D facilities in New Mexico, says the report. The company came to the limelight when they announced their solar-powered drones last year, which can supposedly fly for five years without needing to land. In comparison, Google’s Project Loon has a limited run. While the acquisition is far from confirmed, the report goes on to say that all of Titan Aerospace’s production would go to the Internet.org project.
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