Google’s internet balloons to circle Earth
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Google has teamed up with three Indonesian telecommunications companies to boost internet access in much of rural Indonesia using solar-powered helium balloons. More than 100 million people, out of the 255 million-strong population, currently have no internet access
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PROJECT LOON

Each balloon provides connectivity to ground area of 40km in diameter,
using LTE wireless communications technology

Payload: Two radio transceivers, flight computer, and altitude control system, all powered by solar panels

15m 12m 20km

Envelope: Tightly sealed polyethylene enables balloon to last up to 187 days

Automated crane, plus two or three people, can launch one balloon every
15 minutes
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HOW BALLOONS WORK

Helium-filled balloon sent into stratosphere at altitude of around 20km, where wind speed is relatively low and turbulence minimal

Software moves balloon up and down to find layer of wind blowing in right
direction

Internet beamed to connected device at around 10 megabits a second (3G speed) via antennae on ground

Google plans to launch 300 balloons around world to provide coverage to New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina in 2016
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Source: Project Loon

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