Google’s Project Loon to begin in March
05 Oct 2016
‘Lanka to follow up with Microsoft in March’
Sri Lanka will talk with Microsoft officials in the USA next March Minister Harin Fernando said.
This is subsequent to a follow up discussion Prime Minister Ranil Wickramesinghe had with senior Microsoft officials in Davos Switzerland at the World Investment Forum. He said that they are looking at establishing a Microsoft Innovation Centre in Sri Lanka.
US based Google will launch their Loon (balloon) internet access project from Sri Lanka in June, Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando said.
The equipment to launch this project has already arrived. Fernando said this is the first time this project is launched in the world and it’s an honour that the global search engine giant Google has selected Sri Lanka.
“The technology used for the first time globally will use helium-filled balloons in the atmosphere as satellite base stations to provide high-speed internet service to remote and rural regions of the world.”
The Minister said the project will generate tremendous investor value for Sri Lanka and the country will not have to invest a single cent to achieve it. “In addition Sri Lanka will also be able to earn revenue.”
Fernando said that the communication balloon will be stationed over 75,000 feet and it would revolve around the world going over Sri Lanka every 14 days. The life of a balloon would be around 180 days and then it would be recycled under international environmental standards. “Even the finder of the balloon will be rewarded when he calls the number on the Google balloon.”
“We are now trying to convince to set up the Google Balloon manufacturing facility to be set up in a place like Hambantota which will generate more FDI and employment.”
He stressed that Defense Ministry and International Air Transport Association clearance has been obtained for the project.
Fernando was of the view that the project would benefit Sri Lanka and the Telco operators would be able to use these balloons and reduce their costs to put and main maintain new towers.
Minister said that they met senior officials of Google and Facebook when they toured San Francisco Silicon Valley and this investment is subsequent to that and also meetings with Prime Minister Ranil Wickramesinghe. Subsequently the US-based company had signed a memorandum of understanding with the government.
Launched in 2013, Project Loon is an ambitious plan to encircle the Earth with a chain of balloons floating high which link together to form a network that gives internet access to remote and rural areas.
Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) CEO Muhunthan Canagey said that only around 3 billion out of the 7 billion global population has access to internet. “Project Loon took off with an initial test in New Zealand in 2013, with the ultimate goal of providing internet access to a range of southern hemisphere nations.”
Sourced by: https://www.dailynews.lk
Sri Lanka will talk with Microsoft officials in the USA next March Minister Harin Fernando said.
This is subsequent to a follow up discussion Prime Minister Ranil Wickramesinghe had with senior Microsoft officials in Davos Switzerland at the World Investment Forum. He said that they are looking at establishing a Microsoft Innovation Centre in Sri Lanka.
US based Google will launch their Loon (balloon) internet access project from Sri Lanka in June, Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando said.
The equipment to launch this project has already arrived. Fernando said this is the first time this project is launched in the world and it’s an honour that the global search engine giant Google has selected Sri Lanka.
“The technology used for the first time globally will use helium-filled balloons in the atmosphere as satellite base stations to provide high-speed internet service to remote and rural regions of the world.”
The Minister said the project will generate tremendous investor value for Sri Lanka and the country will not have to invest a single cent to achieve it. “In addition Sri Lanka will also be able to earn revenue.”
Fernando said that the communication balloon will be stationed over 75,000 feet and it would revolve around the world going over Sri Lanka every 14 days. The life of a balloon would be around 180 days and then it would be recycled under international environmental standards. “Even the finder of the balloon will be rewarded when he calls the number on the Google balloon.”
“We are now trying to convince to set up the Google Balloon manufacturing facility to be set up in a place like Hambantota which will generate more FDI and employment.”
He stressed that Defense Ministry and International Air Transport Association clearance has been obtained for the project.
Fernando was of the view that the project would benefit Sri Lanka and the Telco operators would be able to use these balloons and reduce their costs to put and main maintain new towers.
Minister said that they met senior officials of Google and Facebook when they toured San Francisco Silicon Valley and this investment is subsequent to that and also meetings with Prime Minister Ranil Wickramesinghe. Subsequently the US-based company had signed a memorandum of understanding with the government.
Launched in 2013, Project Loon is an ambitious plan to encircle the Earth with a chain of balloons floating high which link together to form a network that gives internet access to remote and rural areas.
Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) CEO Muhunthan Canagey said that only around 3 billion out of the 7 billion global population has access to internet. “Project Loon took off with an initial test in New Zealand in 2013, with the ultimate goal of providing internet access to a range of southern hemisphere nations.”
Sourced by: https://www.dailynews.lk