The project aims to provide solar-powered drones which transmit wireless 5G internet
The company is currently testing its aircraft “Centaur” and Google Titan drones, and will wind up this testing phase in July 2016. Whilst the company has clearly set aside a generous budget to carry out this experiment, which is a branch of its Google Access platform, it seems Google is focusing on other aspects of the project as well. This became apparent after it launched its own repeater tower and flight control center, with its own terminal close to the Spaceflight Operations Center.
Google wants to use drones to transmit high frequency millimeter waves to provide a connection 40 times faster than 4G LTE, which makes its yearning to compete and perhaps surpass competitors including Facebook, is evident. The latter has also been experimenting with similar technologies. This is perhaps the most likely reason Google launched Project Loon, an initiative making use of balloons with transmitters, to provide Wi-Fi connections in rural areas
Google wants to use drones to transmit high frequency millimeter waves to provide a connection 40 times faster than 4G LTE, which makes its yearning to compete and perhaps surpass competitors including Facebook, is evident. The latter has also been experimenting with similar technologies. This is perhaps the most likely reason Google launched Project Loon, an initiative making use of balloons with transmitters, to provide Wi-Fi connections in rural areas
It seems a deep interest in the development of 5G connections has become the modern day agenda for many companies. Startup company Starry recently rolled out an internet router, which also makes use of millimeter waves for faster connections. It is possible therefore, that Google’s inclination towards a drone-service, is in order to maintain its dominant position in competitive markets.
If the project is met with success, we believe its novelty could help Google top major competitors, albeit temporarily. The official public documents which discuss the project, and the company’s aim to launch “self-flying aircraft” technology, have intrigued users, and naturally so, any prospect of a faster, more efficient and reliable internet connection would please most of us. There is one major downside though; transmission using millimeter waves could have a more limited range compared to mobile phone networks.
No comments:
Post a Comment