Internet access has become exponentially more widespread than it was a decade ago, but there are still some locations, even in the US, where high speed broadband is too uncommon or expensive. In addition, there are obviously less developed regions in the world that have little to no access to the internet.
Google and Facebook are both trying to solve this issue (and create new revenue streams for themselves in the process) using similar plans with two different methods: they're looking towards the sky.
Google's Project Loon has been in beta development for several years, and it uses swarms of weather-balloon like objects with electronics attached to float through the stratosphere and send down internet to those below.
Facebook, on the other hand, seemingly wants to use drones to achieve the same task following its reported attempt to purchase Titan Aerospace. It would ideally use the company's Solara 60 solar-powered drone to drift around through the air and beam service to the ground.
Supplying internet to developing countries or areas without reliable service is a commendable goal, though one that of course has business benefits as well. People could be connected to the web for potentially the first time, and the companies both can open up new markets to the next billion people waiting to become customers.
The two methods, like anything, have advantages and disadvantages. The Loon balloons are much cheaper and more lightweight than drones, sizing up at 49ft wide x 39ft high. They won't cause much damage if they fall from the sky (the heavy drones very well could), but that is likely to occur much more often with balloons, which are more susceptible to weather and wear and tear.
Google seemingly plans to use sheer numbers to make up for losing more individual units, though. A balloon might be lost more often, but they cost only a few hundred dollars to make as opposed to the drones' millions and many more will be put out at once.
Facebook's drones might be more costly, but they won't get lost as easily and are more capable of being brought down for repairs or upgrades. They can also carry stronger signals and tech than balloons. Both would have difficulty maintaining position (so much of the world is water, and only so much of what is land is useful for the project) due to weather, but drones would generally have an easier time of it.
Drones would also likely gather more ire from foreign nations if they were floating around in their airspace. Given their reputation, drones wouldn't exactly be welcomed, even if they were promised to really just be providing internet service.
Projects like this have been tried in the past, but modern technology has made it much easier--cell phones are scattered all over to act as receivers, rather than the bulky equipment needed before.
The new methods have their pros and cons, but technologically should work much better than attempts from the past. The US National Transportation Safety Board recently gave approval that should lead to commercial drones being able to use our airspace, and the open skies could be the next gold mine for these companies. It might be a bit longer before we see it in working in other countries, with the rural US probably providing the best test run.
"Right now the stratosphere is wide open," says Iain McClatchie, an aerospace engineer who used to work on drone projects for Google. "It's a gold rush for a prime piece of real estate that the big internet companies think will be very valuable in the decades to come."
Read the full details of this great report by Ben Popper over at The Verge. It remains to be seen when any of this will come into play, but it's definitely a market major corporations are looking into, so keep an eye out for news. Perhaps both Google's and Facebook's plans could coexist one day.