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Kenya To Use Alphabet's Balloons For Rural Internet (reuters.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the high-tech-solutions dept.

Kenya will reportedly use Alphabet's system of internet balloons to connect its rural population to the web. The balloons, known as Project Loon, were developed by Alphabet's X, the company's innovation lab. It was recently used by U.S. telecom operators to provide connectivity to people in Puerto Rico after a hurricane last year. Reuters reports: Joe Mucheru, the information, communication and technology minister, told Reuters on Wednesday that project representatives were holding talks with local telecom operators on the deployment of the technology. "The Loon team are still working out contracts and hopefully once that is done, we can be able to see almost every part of the country covered," he said. With more than 45 million people, Kenya's major cities and towns are covered by operator networks, but vast swathes of rural Kenya are not covered. "Loon is another technology that is being introduced that the licensed operators hopefully can be able to use," Mucheru said, adding it would help the government meet its goal of reaching everyone. "Connectivity is critical. If you are not online, you are left out."

8 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Here's hoping for success! by GerryGilmore · · Score: 3, Informative

    ANY technology that can start spreading internet access to more people at less cost is unequivocally a GoodThing(TM).
    Heck, even here in North Georgia, USA, I'd LOVE to have this as an option. You see, I'm at the mercy of sole-provider Windstream.
    Nuff said.

    1. Re:Here's hoping for success! by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      Didn't they deploy some for Puerto Rico? I wonder how well that has been working.

    2. Re:Here's hoping for success! by Labarna · · Score: 2

      I am living in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. Windstream is the sole provider and we get DSL that delivers 140kbps max.

    3. Re:Here's hoping for success! by not+flu · · Score: 1

      If it does the same to population growth there as what developed nations are experiencing, yes.

  2. People get internet access by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

    ... and Google gets to track and log all their online activities from day one. It’s a win win!

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  3. They should use Trump-Baby balloons by nospam007 · · Score: 1

    Nothing helps the schools better than the Internet being litterally supported by a 'stable genius'.

    1. Re: They should use Trump-Baby balloons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Everyone has their fetish bro. For some it is Russian hookers pissing on your face. Or others, it is the humiliating overthrow of a despotic, narcissistic tyrant.

  4. Porn by QuadEddie · · Score: 1

    I wonder what effect all that black on white porn viewing is going to have