Facebook has been on a mission to get the world connected to the Internet. It’s launch of Internet.org aimed to make the internet accessible to more people by providing a set of free basic services.
According to Facebook, over 85% of the world’s population lives in areas with existing cellular coverage, yet only about 30% of the total population accesses the internet.
Now the company wants to provide internet connectivity to over 4 billion people who are still not online.
For those who live within range of a 3G wireless signal, Facebook worked with with mobile operators across 17 countries last year to provide over a billion people with access to basic internet services. There is still a percentage of the world that lives in locations where no Internet infrastructure exists (fiber-optic cables, cell towers, etc.) so Facebook has been planning to beam Internet right down from the sky over their location.
The company has been working with its Connectivity Lab and has finally completed a full-scale aircraft, called Aquila. Aquila, the high-altitude drone was designed by an Connectivity Lab’s aerospace team in the UK. Thanks to its unique design and carbon-fiber frame the Internet-providing aircraft has a wingspan like a 737, but actually weights much less, according to a press release.
Once it is deployed and fully functional, Aquila will be able to beam down Internet to a remote area for 90 days at an altitude of 60,000 to 90,000 feet.
Aquila is now ready for testing.
Story via Facebook.
