Facebook Unveils Web-Connected Aircraft With Wingspan of a 737
Facebook to Use Drones to Connect People to the Internet
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Facebook Inc.’s plan for connecting rural areas to the Internet involves using balloons to lift drones to an altitude of 90,000 feet (27,400 meters), where they will fly for up to three months and transmit information using lasers.
The social-media company, which is aiming to get more people connected to the Internet, gave details of the technical challenges of the project on Thursday. The unmanned aircraft, which will have the wingspan of a Boeing 737 and weigh about a third of a Toyota Prius. The entire surface of the drones are covered in solar panels, removing the need to carry fuel.