Alphabet’s Loon prepares for commercial launch in Kenya with internet balloon tests

  • Thread starter Thread starter The Verge RSS
  • Start date Start date
T

The Verge RSS

Guest
Author: Jon Porter

1_eiz3UDdNyHkgbUHLT59Oxg.0.jpeg
A Loon balloon as it takes off. | Image: Loon
Project Loon, the Alphabet division that aims to use high-altitude balloons to supply internet to remote communities, could be just weeks away from launching its first commercial service in Kenya. The company’s balloons are currently performing network testing in the skies above the country, and TechCrunch reports that it hopes to turn on its commercial service in partnership with Telkom Kenya “in the coming weeks,” pending their results.

If its launch goes ahead, Loon will join the growing number of Alphabet’s “moonshot” projects that are transitioning toward offering real commercial services. The company’s drone delivery service, Wing, is currently offering deliveries in a small number of locations in Australia, Virginia, and Finland,...

Continue reading…

Continue reading...