
Facebook announced that it plans to use drones to deliver internet service to some of the most remote locations in the world.
It seems like drones are being used for just about any purpose these days, but Facebook has made announcement that is sure to change perceptions on the technology. According to a report from GeekWire, the social network will develop a fleet of drones that can offer WiFi services to more remote regions throughout the world.
Facebook’s WiFi drones are a part of the company’s effort to bring internet connection to the entire world. Mark Zuckerberg posted about the development on his Facebook page, announcing that the company’s Connectivity Lab had finally finished building the first full-scale aircraft Aquila for the Internet.org project.
Zuckerberg wrote on his page, “Aquila is a solar-powered, unmanned plane that beams down internet connectivity from the sky. It has the wingspan of a Boeing 737, but weighs less than a car and can stay in the air for months at a time.”
In a video released by Facebook, the plane’s engineering team reveals that the aircraft is made of carbon fiber and can reach altitudes of nearly 60,000 feet. Engineers are excited about challenging the basic assumptions about internet delivery, and believe that the drone could be the future of providing the service that the world runs on today.
The drone will use lasers and radio frequency technology to provide internet service to remote areas at 10 gigabits per second. It can accurately connect with a device the size of a dime from a distance of 10 miles away.
Facebook isn’t the only one looking to get into the internet drone game. Google announced its plans for Project Loon, a WiFi-delivering hot air balloon, and Amazon has been working to roll out its fleet of delivery drones for the last year.
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