‘Project Loon’ Wi-fi balloons to help restore mobile networks in hurricane devastated Puerto Rico
Several tech companies propose disaster response ideas, most aimed at getting phone and internet service up and running
Google’s parent company was set to launch balloons into the Caribbean skies in an attempt to restore telephone networks in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.
Alphabet Inc., which controls Google, obtained authorisation from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy the devices – developed from 2013 as part of a project known as “Loon”.
It aims to temporarily re-establish Puerto Rico’s cellular network – where 83 per cent of cell sites were still out of service, according to FCC figures.
“More than two weeks after Hurricane Maria struck, millions of Puerto Ricans are still without access to much-needed communications services,” FCC chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement.
“That’s why we need to take innovative approaches to help restore connectivity on the island,” he added, urging wireless carriers to “cooperate with Project Loon to maximise this effort’s chances of success.”
Loon, part of a series of futuristic projects out of Alphabet’s “X” laboratory, was originally created to provide internet coverage in underdeveloped rural areas.