Google may get approval to test Loon in India
In this article (5)
Google is reportedly in discussions with the Indian government to test its Project Loon in the nation through a four-day pilot program.
The company is likely to secure approval for the test in Andhra Pradesh or Maharashtra. State-owned operator BSNL is co-ordinating with Google on the project, providing space, spectrum coordination and equipment testing, according to the report.
The companies are evaluating the use of either the 700-MHz or 2500-MHz bands for the pilot, and the latter seems the more likely choice as it would not require the approval of the Department of Telecom. BSNL has 20 MHz of spectrum in the 2500-MHz band across 14 of India’s 22 telecom circles.
Project Loon is a Google “moon shot” aimed at providing internet connectivity via a network of high-altitude helium balloons circling the globe.
Trials of the technology are also being conducted in the US, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. The technology is being developed with a particular focus on improving connectivity in emerging nations
Questions & Answers
Q.Which specific states in India are being considered for the Project Loon test?
Which specific states in India are being considered for the Project Loon test?
Google is likely to secure approval to test Project Loon in either Andhra Pradesh or Maharashtra. These are the two states currently being evaluated for the four-day pilot programme.
Q.How is BSNL involved in Google's Project Loon pilot in India?
How is BSNL involved in Google's Project Loon pilot in India?
State-owned operator BSNL is coordinating with Google, providing space, spectrum coordination, and equipment testing for the project. This partnership is crucial for the pilot programme's execution.
Q.Which frequency band is more likely to be used for the Project Loon pilot, and why?
Which frequency band is more likely to be used for the Project Loon pilot, and why?
The 2500-MHz band seems the more likely choice for the pilot project. This is because using this band would not require additional approval from the Department of Telecom.
Q.In which other countries are trials of Project Loon currently being conducted?
In which other countries are trials of Project Loon currently being conducted?
Trials of Project Loon technology are currently being conducted in the US, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. India would join this list if the approval is granted.
Reader pulse
Is Google's Loon project a major shift for Indian retail?
19,444 votes so far