Google’S Balloon-Based Internet Project

[JANASENA]

 

 

The Central government has asked IT giant Google to freshly submit its proposal  for testing balloon-based Internet technology for Loon Project.The proposed frequency band to be used in the Loon Project of Google is being used for cellular operations in India and it will lead to interference with cellular transmissions. The Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has reportedly told that they have not yet received Google’s proposal with a change of frequency band.

What is this Loon Project?
The Loon Project is a development project by Google X which aims to provide internet access to rural and remote areas.  The project uses high-altitude balloons floating 20 km above the earth surface and transmits internet service. Each balloon can provide connectivity to a ground area of about 40 km in diameter.  The project that is said to have a potential to replace mobile towers and transmit direct signals to 4G mobile phones has been tested in New Zealand, California and Brazil.

A similar initiative in India
The Department of Electronics & Information Technology of India (DeitY) is also carrying out a pilot test to determine whether TV white space (TV White Space refers to the unused TVchannels between the active ones in the VHF and UHF spectrum) can be utilised or not for making internet connectivity in gram panchayats. This technology uses part of a spectrum that remains unused while transmitting broadcast signals.

How will it help India?
TV white space technology is considered to be more powerful than wifi signals. It can penetrate more obstacles that a wifi is not able to do. So mobile consumers, who often complain of bad network coverage inside buildings or elevators, can get improved network quality if TV white space technology works.

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