Google's Project Loon Balloons May Cover Sri Lanka With Internet Access

Zothecula writes: Sri Lanka is set to become the first country with universal Internet access after signing a memorandum of understanding with Google to use the company's Project Loon balloons. Officials say there is not a timetable for when the balloons will be covering the 25,000 square mile nation, but this is a crucial first step. The Foreign minister noted that "from this event onwards advertisements or headlines saying “Matara covered” or “Jaffna covered” will become a part of history." And concluded his speech saying that he was "proud to declare that we are at the cusp of a reclaiming our heritage of being connected to each other and connected to the world. In a few months we will truly be able to say: Sri Lanka, Covered."

Comments

Re:Wind

[tomhath]

As I understand it, they plan to keep the balloons approximately in place by using the different wind directions at higher and lower altitudes to steer. I'll believe it when I see it.

Re:Wind

[Namarrgon]

By raising & lowering the balloons between opposing jetstreams.

Been a while since I needed this, but: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=project+loon&l=1.

Re:Umm, I hope that translation is to blame.

[Harlequin80]

I suspect that he is referring to the fact Sri Lanka was a huge trade node during the 15th to 18th centuries.