Indonesian telecom giants Telkomsel, XL Axiata, and Indosat will start testing Alphabet’s Project Loon balloon-powered Internet from next year.
The US-based tech titan expects its LTE Internet initiative to reach more than 100 million Indonesians in the next few years and provide them access to internet-related educational, cultural, and economic opportunities.
Project Loon was launched by Google, but after its split into two companies the project went to its parent company Alphabet.
The solar powered balloons used in Project Loon float in the stratosphere. They use algorithms to find directions and to move up or down to catch the winds blowing in the respective direction.
According to Google, each balloon beams a connection down to the ground; as one balloon drifts out of range, another takes its place, a process that is likely to help local operators extend the coverage of their existing networks, and reach remote areas.
The company said that apart from Project Loon its other initiatives such as introduction of Android One phones in developing countries like Indonesia and India, will spread the use of internet among the masses.
