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Facebook May Buy Drone Maker, Hints At Broadband By Drone

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.

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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.
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WiFiguru
To infinity... and beyond
Premium Member
join:2005-06-21
Seattle, WA

WiFiguru

Premium Member

Sure....

Facebook, having the largest facial recognition database...

Sure... "Broadband" by drone, eh?

ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16

ITALIAN926

Member

Re: Sure....

Google makes me laugh. Just listen to the word. Google. GOOGLE ----- GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGLE !

norm
join:2012-10-18
Pittsburgh, PA

norm

Member

Re: Sure....

Don't drink and post?

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

1 recommendation

tshirt

Premium Member

With LOON popping laser attachment...

...
Paul in WA
join:2010-09-11
Centralia, WA

Paul in WA

Member

Back in the 1960s

I 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 Wolf
Retired
Premium Member
join:2001-12-30
USA

Lone Wolf

Premium Member

Re: Back in the 1960s

They 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

Jim_in_VA (banned)

Member

Re: Back in the 1960s

+1 for Paul and his service

WHT
join:2010-03-26
Rosston, TX

WHT to Paul in WA

Member

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

Re: Back in the 1960s

that was all it was meant to be and it worked very well
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

It is also a patent grab

I 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

Nations like...Africa?

Really?
nogaps
join:2011-01-08
Greenbush, MI

1 recommendation

nogaps

Member

drone II

I'd be a little nervous were I the Winklevoss twins.
ptb42
join:2002-09-30
USA

ptb42

Member

Google "hot air" balloon?

Really, Karl?
ncbill
Premium Member
join:2007-01-23
Winston Salem, NC

ncbill

Premium Member

Not a new idea

I hope they kick Dean Ing a few bucks if they do this.