Facebook May Buy Drone Maker, Hints At Broadband By Drone Tuesday Mar 04 2014 19:01 EDT TechCrunch is the first to report that Facebook is preparing to purchase drone manufacturer Titan Aerospace for $60 million. The deal is being struck as part of Facebook's Internet.org effort, which explores ways to bring broadband access to developing nations like Africa. The company already offers highly-limited, Facebook-only Internet access tier dubbed Facebook Zero. Titan's focus has been the development of "atmosats," or ultra-high altitude drones that can replace satellite functionality for a fraction of the cost. The Titan acquisition is rumored to involve using drones that could potentially remain in flight for long periods of time, delivering bits and bytes to the masses below: quote: The Solara 50 and 60 models can be launched at night using power from internal battery packs, then when the sun rises, they can store enough energy to ascend to 20KM above sea level where they can remain for five years without needing to land or refuel. Such capabilities make them ideal for regional Internet systems, like those that Internet.org would be focused on.
Whether it's broadband by blimp, broadband by Google hot air balloon, or broadband via magic carpet, these broadband-by-aircraft stories always seem to generate a lot of excitement, but I'd be hard pressed to recall one that actually resulted in a significant, meaningful broadband deployment. Maybe Facebook and Titan can be the first, but I'm not betting on it. |
WiFiguruTo infinity... and beyond Premium Member join:2005-06-21 Seattle, WA |
WiFiguru
Premium Member
2014-Mar-4 6:53 pm
Sure....Facebook, having the largest facial recognition database...
Sure... "Broadband" by drone, eh? | |
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Re: Sure....Google makes me laugh. Just listen to the word. Google. GOOGLE ----- GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGLE ! | |
| | | norm join:2012-10-18 Pittsburgh, PA |
norm
Member
2014-Mar-4 9:09 pm
Re: Sure....Don't drink and post? | |
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tshirt Premium Member join:2004-07-11 Snohomish, WA
1 recommendation |
tshirt
Premium Member
2014-Mar-4 7:03 pm
With LOON popping laser attachment...... | |
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Back in the 1960sI can remember Armed Forces Radio & TV using transmitters in airplanes to broadcast TV shows a few hours every evening to us soldiers serving in Vietnam. This sounds as if it might be a bit more efficient if it works out. | |
| | Lone WolfRetired Premium Member join:2001-12-30 USA |
Re: Back in the 1960sThey still use Stratovision according to Wikipedia.
Thanks for sharing and thanks for your service. | |
| | | Jim_in_VA (banned) join:2004-07-11 Cobbs Creek, VA |
Re: Back in the 1960s+1 for Paul and his service | |
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| WHT join:2010-03-26 Rosston, TX |
to Paul in WA
said by Paul in WA:Armed Forces Radio & TV using transmitters in airplanes to broadcast TV shows that's multicasting, i.e. receive only clients...not bi-directional data from a low-power client. | |
| | | Jim_in_VA (banned) join:2004-07-11 Cobbs Creek, VA |
Jim_in_VA (banned)
Member
2014-Mar-4 10:19 pm
Re: Back in the 1960sthat was all it was meant to be and it worked very well | |
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KearnstdSpace Elf Premium Member join:2002-01-22 Mullica Hill, NJ |
Kearnstd
Premium Member
2014-Mar-5 4:28 am
It is also a patent grabI bet this company also has some nice patents. And in this day in age patents are sadly worth more than product or the minds that work for the company. This is why Google has been gobbling up robotics firms. Both companies see futures in the automated platforms industry and want to own the patent war chest while they can get it on the cheap. | |
| mob (banned)On the next level.. join:2000-10-07 San Jose, CA
1 recommendation |
mob (banned)
Member
2014-Mar-5 5:26 am
Nations like...Africa?Really? | |
| nogaps join:2011-01-08 Greenbush, MI
1 recommendation |
nogaps
Member
2014-Mar-5 8:16 am
drone III'd be a little nervous were I the Winklevoss twins. | |
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ptb42
Member
2014-Mar-5 8:31 am
Google "hot air" balloon?Really, Karl? | |
| ncbill Premium Member join:2007-01-23 Winston Salem, NC |
ncbill
Premium Member
2014-Mar-5 11:02 am
Not a new ideaI hope they kick Dean Ing a few bucks if they do this. | |
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