The Narendra Modi Government at the Centre has cleared internet giant Google’s proposal to provide internet connectivity through floating large balloons.
According to the proposal, Google will float large balloons at a height of about 20 kilometers from the earth’s surface, which will facilitate transmission of internet services.
Termed ‘Project Loon’, the technology has successfully been tested in New Zealand, Brazil and the state of California of the United States.
However, the government has approved only testing of Project Loon for now, and committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary, Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY) set up to work on it, according to sources.
He said that Google may initially partner with BSNL for testing this technology.
As per Google, each balloon can provide connectivity to a ground area about 40km in diameter using a wireless communications technology called LTE or 4G.
To use LTE, Project Loon partners with telecommunications companies to share cellular spectrum so that people are able to access the Internet everywhere directly from their phones and other LTE-enabled devices.
Google uses solar panel and wind to power electronic equipment in the balloon throughout the day. The role of the internet giant would be that of a technology service provider and not as internet service provider.