Facebook to Use Drones to Deliver Internet Access Worldwide

[roseofbattle]

Facebook to Use Drones to Deliver Internet Access Worldwide

Facebook has partnered with experts in aerospace technology to use drones, satellites, and lasers to provide internet access around the world.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced the company's plans for providing internet access worldwide to people who live in regions without an infrastructure for internet connections. Through partnerships with internet.org [http://internet.org/] and aerospace technology experts, Facebook hopes to connect the rest of the world online through drones, satellites, and lasers.

Facebook's Connectivity Lab will include people from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and Ames Research Center. It also hired Ascenta, developer of the Zephyr, currently the record holder for longest-flying solar-powered unmanned aircraft.

In today's digital age, the United Nations have declared internet access a basic human right, but two-thirds of the world still has no internet access. Zuckerberg noted Facebook has already made progress in the Phillipines and Paraguay, doubling the number of people who use mobile data with Facebook's partnered operators. According to Zuckerberg, this has helped 3 million people access the internet.

"We're going to continue building these partnerships, but connecting the whole world will require inventing new technology too," Zuckerberg said. "That's what our Connectivity Lab focuses on, and there's a lot more exciting work to do here."

Facebook's move for wider internet access isn't entirely altruistic. More people online means greater potential to increase the number of Facebook users. This project also stands to compete with Google's Project Loon, which uses solar-powered balloons to deliver internet access worldwide. So far, 30 balloons have been launched in New Zealand.

Source: BBC [https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10101322049893211?stream_ref=10]


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[Daaaah Whoosh]

So people are just floating Internet signals in the sky now? Does that amount to free wi-fi within a certain radius of these drones? And if so, what kind of flight path would they need to take to keep people from running around in circles to keep their Internet all day?

 

[Auberon]

Cynic in me says this is first step for world domination plan, or at least Internet monopoly. Because he will stick Facebook down everyone's throats.

 

[Trivun]

I understand that Facebook and Zuckerberg stand to gain from this, but at the end of the day this is a really great idea and more than a little cool. See, this is the kind of thing I wish more businesses would do - use tactics that benefit themselves financially/reputationally while at the same time benefitting people elsewhere. I couldn't see the likes of King trying something like this if they had the resources to do so (or they would but they'd try to trademark the Internet itself), but when someone with such a bad rep as a faceless juggernaut comes along and does something that, yes, will be good for them, but also helps out the avergae joe on the street, you can't help but be a little impressed

 

[Brian Tams]

Because that worked SOOOO well when amazon said they were gong to use drones, amiright?

 

[VaporWare]

It's going to be a Brave New World.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

I have to wonder how many of these will be shot at or down by gun toting folk who're scared of drones passing over their homesteads...

 

[rvdm88]

Now it's just innocent drones to provide internet to remote areas using satellite and lasers.
Though once the network is up they will rain death upon the world using lasers and satellites, aside from spying on people.

*puts on tinfoil hat*

 

[RA92]

I wonder if the solar-powered drones will end up looking like NASA's awesome Helios...

http://www.baronerosso.it/forum/attachments/aeromodellismo-volo-elettrico/1970d1109611346-pannelli-solari-helios_take_off.jpg

 

[J Tyran]

So people are just floating Internet signals in the sky now? Does that amount to free wi-fi within a certain radius of these drones? And if so, what kind of flight path would they need to take to keep people from running around in circles to keep their Internet all day?

It will be mobile internet instead of wifi, a combination of 3 and 4G in all likelihood. They will act as mobile network towers/cell stations, instead of being hardlined the cell towers are they will relay the the data to a satellite. As they are airborne the range will be greater than a tower but will be compensated for by having a lower power output, the range of each drone could easily reach fourty to seventy KM however.

Without some details its hard to speculate reasonably, the range could be even greater than that if they have enough power. With no encroachment and line of sight issues even the tallest cell towers have to contend with the range could be huge, each drone will just have a holding pattern over an area to provide the best coverage for the communities they provide the network for.

 

[FalloutJack]

Clearly, Facebook is run by the Master, this is the Archangel Network, and he's set to bring 6 billion Toclafaine down to Earth.

 

[Me55enger]

They could team up with the US Army and solve two problems at once.

 

[shadowmagus]

I gotta hand it to Mark. Regardless of how you feel about it, you have to respect this mans ability to play the long game.

 

[s_h_a_d_o]

First Oculus VR, now drones... I'm not sure I like where this is headed. :|

 

[weirdee]

Say what you want about corporations and sinister intent, but as bad as a war between drones and balloons would be for mankind in terms of collateral damage, the playbacks would be SO AWESOME.

 

[mateushac]

I wonder how they're gonna prevent people from shooting those things down. Also, what the fuck is Zuckeberg's overall plan by now? Dude just keeps investing tons of money in random far-fetched technology projects for no reason.

 

[fix-the-spade]

That's...pretty damn cool.

Now, if they allow people to pilot said craft with the Oculus rift I will take back every bad thing ever said about the sale.

And the teachers of the world will live in fear as medium sized drones constantly smash into their car first thing every damned morning.

I wonder how they're gonna prevent people from shooting those things down. Also, what the fuck is Zuckeberg's overall plan by now? Dude just keeps investing tons of money in random far-fetched technology projects for no reason.

Black Ops 2?

He's got defacto control of a major communication network, how about control of them all, plus an army of drones to direct and control the flow of information and remote VR piloting to aid instant retribution.

Actually, that sounds like Metal Gear.

If he starts walking around wearing a trench coat, leather gloves and sunglasses we're all in deep trouble.