Google's Internet-Beaming Drones Set To Take Flight This Year
MOUNTAIN VIEW (CBS SF) -- Titan, the drone company Google acquired last year, plans to conduct its maiden voyage this year of aircraft that could provide internet to people on the ground.
Google's Sundar Pichai announced the update during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Monday morning. Titan's drone, described as an "atmospheric satellite," can maintain high altitude for prolonged periods of time. The team is currently working on a new ultra-light drone that would be able to hover in the stratosphere for prolonged periods of time to send internet to a targeted area.
Along with Google's high altitude balloons Project Loon, Pichai said the aircraft could supply existing internet services with extra bandwidth or provide access in an offline area after an earthquake or other disaster.
Pichai said he also hopes to put the project to good use by providing reliable internet access to around four billion people who don't have it.
