Alphabet’s Loon is currently testing its internet connectivity balloons over Kenya for the first commercial service launch. When launched, this deployment will provide internet connectivity to Telkom Kenya’s mobile subscribers.
In March this year, the Kenyan government gave formal approval for Loon’s balloons to operate in the stratosphere above the country. Loon’s deployment in Kenya has been in the works since it signed a contract with Telkom Kenya in July 2018.
Loon’s balloons are essentially floating cell towers and they enable end-users access the internet in much the same way they would connect to the mobile internet using a smartphone. A customer will not necessarily know they are connected to a Loon balloon, aside from the fact that they may receive a signal in a location where one did not previously exist. However a customer needs to have a sim card of the mobile network operator that is partnering with Loon and an LTE-enabled smartphone.
To get to Kenya, these balloons were released from one of Loon’s two launch sites in Puerto Rico or Nevada. Salvatore Candido, CTO at Loon, highlights the work involved in ensuring the balloons get to Nairobi which is about 11,000 kms as the crow flies. However these balloons do not fly in a straight line. Instead, they fly the fastest route that drifting on the stratospheric winds allows as determined by Loon’s software automation.
“For example, HBAL125 (pictured below) launched from Puerto Rico and traveled over the Atlantic Ocean, flying southeast along the coast of Brazil. It flew south into the Southern Atlantic jet stream to quickly round the Cape of Good Hope before heading back north into the slower winds of the equatorial region³. At this point, the balloon took a planned detour for Loon to collect data about the stratospheric winds over the Indian Ocean to enhance to our models in the region. Finally, in coordination with the local authorities, HBAL125 flew into Kenyan airspace to begin network testing two weeks ago.” he states.
“But as humanity copes with the covid19 pandemic and we find ourselves physically distancing from our friends, colleagues, and family, it is our ability to stay in touch online that is keeping us informed, together, and connected.” Salvatore concludes.
