They end the drone of Facebook that will give internet via laser – Milenio.com

Access the Internet through a network of solar drones is an exotic project Facebook that begins to take shape: the social network announced that built the first of these with which will provide internet via laser

. Conceived in the UK and dubbed Aquila , it is essentially a huge carbon fiber wing of a similar size of a Boeing 737, but with a lower weight of a small car, not more than 450 kilos, including communications equipment.

“Another important step” has crossed parallel with the development of a system of “communications lasers that reaches tens of gigagbytes per second, is 10 times better than today’s most advanced laser “said Yael Maguire, an engineer at the head of Connectivity Lab, the Facebook team responsible for the investigation of new ways to access the Internet, in a presentation at the group’s headquarters in Menlo Park California.

These lasers could reach a coin 10 cents to 18 kilometers away, precision is necessary because Facebook wants to use them to unite the ground communication equipment with drones flying at altitude (between 18-27 kilometers) creating a network.

The team plans to test before the end of the year in the US.

The drone will be launched from a balloon so you can leave quickly and easily airspace using conventional transport devices. Once it reaches its height, it achieved a stable position, from which it will cover a ground area of ​​50 kilometers.

The drones are only one of the means that Facebook plans to extend coverage online at 10 percent of the world’s population remains without access, particularly in emerging countries, with a internet.org named initiative.

Last year the network launched a app that led to a “light” version of the network with some online services deemed essential.

According to Facebook’s engineers, network with drones would give everyone access to internet. The devices serve especially in suburban and rural areas and could “quickly provide connectivity in the area in need” after a natural disaster, for example, explained Jay Parikh, Facebook vice president in charge of engineering aspects.