Facebook To Provide Internet Access Via Drones

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB) revealed its plans to connect people all over the world to the internet via a solar-powered drone that is capable of beaming the signal down to people in remote corners of the world.

The drone was unveiled at the F8 developer conference on Thursday.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted on Facebook that the drone is a great way to connect people who live in places where there is no internet infrastructure.

Since the drones are solar powered via panels located on the wings, Zuckerberg says the idea is not only plausible, but affordable as well.

The drone, called Aquila weighs in at just under that of an average car due to its lightweight construction materials, but has a wingspan comparable to that of a Boeing 737.

The company says Aquila can be in the air for up to three months at a time, all while sending internet access to the people below via lasers and running communications systems that keep the drone from colliding with others.

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Aquila will be ready for test flights this summer, Facebook executives said, though the company has already tested other versions this year. This month, the social networking site tested a smaller version of the drone using solar power, but that aircraft was only a tenth of Aqula's size.

However, the company is unlikely to launch the project for quiet some time as safety concerns and drone regulations still remain sizable obstacles.