Google is slowly inching forward with Project Loon in India, with the government now asking it to choose a telecom partner to help it conduct tests. The balloon-based connectivity project was officially confirmed last year after hitting a few roadblocks.
To recall, initial reports had hinted that Google was partnering with BSNL for Project Loon. However, this may not come to pass since the search giant wants to utilize the 700MHz or 800MHz band for its experiments instead of the 2500Mhz airwaves the government body holds.
The 700MHz bandwidth is the most costly and efficient spectrum for telecommunications. It hasn’t been snapped up by any network provider yet. TRAI had previously suggested that the band should be a part of the next auction. Interested brands would have to buy a minimum of 5MHz at a starting rate of Rs 11485 crore per MHz.
With this in mind, an official told PTI that Google has been asked to select any telecom partner for its endeavors that is capable of meeting its requirements. It will then have to approach the government to go ahead with the testing process. Alternately, the company may join hands with BSNL and carry out its evaluations with the spectrum owned by the player.
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Project Loon has the potential to replace mobile towers in the future, since the balloons being used are able to beam 4G signals to an area measuring about 40km in diameter. Google CEO Sundar Pichai had earlier said the initiative will be a boon to people residing in out-of-the-way rural areas which traditional methods of connectivity cannot reach.
Google has already successfully tested Project Loon in places like Brazil, California and New Zealand. The telecom ministry has formed a special panel under the information technology secretary to aid it in India. The body has apparently asked BSNL to look into supplying the necessary support for the enterprise.