BALLOON-POWERED INTERNET FOR EVERYONE

More than half of the world's population is still without Internet access. Therefore, "Project Loon" being developed by X (formerly Google X) with the mission of providing Internet access to rural and remote areas. "Project Loon" is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to extend Worldwide Internet connectivity.

The "Project Loon" is using high-altitude balloons placed in the stratosphere at an altitude of about 18 km, and it creates an aerial wireless network with up to 4G-LTE speeds.

BALLOONS
"Project Loon" balloons are designed and manufactured at scale to survive the conditions in the stratosphere, where winds can blow over 100 km/hr and the thin atmosphere offers little protection from UV radiation and dramatic temperature swings which can reach as low as -90°C. The balloon envelopes used in the project are made by Raven Aerostar and are composed of polyethylene plastic about 0.076 mm (0.0030 in) thick.

EQUIPMENT
Project Loon has taken the most essential components of a cell tower and redesigned them to be light enough and durable enough to be carried by a balloon 20 km up in the stratosphere. All the equipment is highly energy-efficient and is powered entirely by renewable energy - with solar panels powering daytime operations and charging a battery for use during the night.

LAUNCHING
On July 28, 2015, “Project Loon” has started testing in Sri Lanka ahead of a planned joint venture with the government.