Google’s Project Loon may take flight as pilot project in India

The Communications and IT Ministry is finally in talks with Google to conduct Project Loon on pilot basis but only for four days.

Google’s Project Loon, which aims to provide 4G internet connectivity in remote areas, was earlier rejected by the ministries due to concerns over spectrum, air space and surveillance.

But now, the Project Loon, which uses high-altitude balloons, may see light of the day as India wants to explore as many options to provide internet connectivity in rural and remote areas of India.

READ ALSO: Google's internet-beaming Project Loon balloons are now being tested in Sri Lanka

Project Loon uses helium-filled balloons floating 20 km above the earth's surface and signals from each balloon can cover a diameter of 40 km on the ground.

"We are trying to test the effectiveness of Loon in the interiors of the country, since there is already ample connectivity in urban areas," an official, who did not want to be identified, told ET.

Although the National Informatics Centre (NIC) is still looking for locations for Project Loon’s pilot test, it can be between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Earlier, the Google’s project was rejected as one of the concerns was that the spectrum band required by Google for the transmission - 700 MHz to 900 MHz - is currently occupied by telecom service providers and could lead to interference with cellular transmissions.

"We will identify the location and then approach the civil aviation ministry for permission. It will be done like in the case of joy rides-we will provide specifics in terms of the starting and closing time of the pilot for them to be adequately informed," the official told ET.

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said the Indian government was in principle agreeable to trials of Project Loon and had proposed a joint venture with BSNL on the same.

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