Google’s internet balloons

to circle Earth

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

15m

Envelope:

Tightly sealed

polyethylene

enables balloon

to last up to

187 days

PROJECT LOON

Each balloon provides

connectivity to

ground area of

40km in diameter,

using LTE wireless

communications

technology

Automated

crane, plus

two or three

people, can

launch one

balloon every

15 minutes

Payload:

Two radio

transceivers, flight

computer, and altitude

control system, all

powered by solar panels

HOW BALLOONS WORK

1

2

3

Helium-filled balloon

Software moves balloon

Internet beamed

sent into stratosphere

at altitude of around

20km, where wind

speed is relatively low

and turbulence

minimal

up and down to find layer

of wind blowing in right

direction

to connected device

at around 10 megabits

a second (3G speed)

via antennae on

ground

2

3

1

Google plans to launch 300 balloons around world to provide

coverage to New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina in 2016

Source: Project Loon

Google’s internet

balloons to circle Earth

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

15m

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

Automated crane, plus

two or three people,

can launch one balloon

every 15 minutes

Envelope:

Tightly

sealed polyethylene

enables balloon to

last up to 187 days

3

HOW BALLOONS WORK

2

3

1

Helium-filled balloon sent into stratosphere at

altitude of around 20km, where wind speed is

relatively low and turbulence minimal

2

Software moves balloon up and down to find

layer of wind blowing in right direction

3

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

Source: Project Loon

Google’s

internet

balloons to

circle Earth

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

PROJECT LOON:

Each balloon

provides connectivity to ground

area of 40km in diameter, using

LTE wireless communications

technology

Envelope:

Tightly sealed

polyethylene enables balloon

to last up to 187 days

15m

Payload:

Two radio

transceivers,

flight computer, and altitude

control system, all powered

by solar panels

HOW BALLOONS WORK

2

3

1

Helium-filled balloon sent into

stratosphere at altitude of 20km,

where wind speed is relatively

low and turbulence minimal

2

Software moves balloon up

and down to find layer of wind

blowing in right direction

3

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

Source: Project Loon