By Heather Hamilton, contributing writer
X, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, recently signed a deal with Indian state Andhra Pradesh to offer internet connectivity. X describes it as “fiber optic cable, but without the cable,” which uses beams of light to deliver internet quickly across large distances. They hope that free space optical communications will be able to provide high-bandwidth internet to southeast India and will work with Indian employees to identify prime locations for the service.
Home to Hyderbad, one of India’s most tech-savvy cities, the state is home to some of the least expensive broadband access globally. Still, in more rural areas, Indians are unable to connect to high-speed internet. And, as Hyderbad joins a newly forming Indian state in 2024, Andhra Pradesh will likely see lower connectivity numbers. Now they’d like to get internet to 12 million households and organizations by 2019. For perspective, Andhra Pradesh is home to roughly 53 million people, and only 20% have access to broadband connectivity.
X has joined forces with telecom company AP State FiberNet to build 2,000 FSOC links. X says that, without the cable, time, cost, and hassle are reduced. Baris Erkman, FSOC lead for X, continues in a piece for Medium , “FSOC boxes can simply be placed kilometers apart on the roofs or towers, with the signal beamed directly between the boxes to easily traverse common obstacles like rivers, roads, and railways.”
The technology was developed for Project Loon , Alphabet’s program to deliver internet to remote locations via balloon. FSOC initially allowed the balloons to establish communication with one another. Since then, X has worked to develop the technology for applications on the ground.
A small group of team members from both Project Loon and others who have worked on connectivity-related technology joined together to pilot the new approach to internet, says Erkman. “The links will plug critical gaps to major access points, like cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots.”
As the program kicks off in 2018, X will deploy a small team of engineers and other experts in Andhra Pradesh, who will work with locals to support the process. On Medium, Erkman invites collaboration. “We also welcome conversations with other organizations looking to explore FSOC technology further with us, too,” he writes.
Sources: Medium, Project Loon
Image Source: Pixabay
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