Google already offers internet to places that have no access to internet via Project Loon using floating balloons above the stratosphere. Now According to a report from The Guardian, the search giant is reportedly testing high-speed 5G internet drones under a secret project, dubbed SkyBender at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
The project is said to be part of Google's access team, which also include Project loon and foresees thousands of high-altitude solar-powered drones delivering internet connectivity around the world. Multiple drone carrying several prototype transceivers are currently being tested by Google to experiment high frequency millimeters, which can transmit data up to 40 times faster than current generation 4G LTE system. This could pave way for the next generation 5G wireless internet connectivity.
In addition to using solar powered drones, Solara 50 made by Google Titan, the company is also testing the technology with optionally piloted aircraft called Centaur. The drones and support aircraft are housed at Virgin Galactic's 15,000 square feet hangar space in the Gateway of Space terminal. Google has also installed its own dedicated flight control centre in the nearby Spaceflight Operations Center
The FCC has already granted Google to continue the tests until July 2016. Google is not the only company working on solar powered drone, in July last year, Facebook announced Project Aquila under which it is testing solar powered drones, aimed at providing internet access to rural areas. Aquila, is a V-shaped plane that has the wingspan of a Boeing 737 that is capable of flying at altitudes between 60,000 feet and 90,000 for three months at a time.
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