Facebook’s Solar-Powered Internet Drone Aquila Ready for Tests

Facebook has announced the completion of its first full-scale drone, which it says has the wingspan of a Boeing 737 that will provide internet access in remote parts of the world in order to connect more and more people.

Let’s Connect the World: Facebook’s Solar-Powered Internet Drone Aquila Ready for Tests

The company confirmed that this aircraft will be tested soon in US first.

A Journey from Fiction to Reality

About Aquila:

• Weigh: 880lbs (400kg),
• Operate area: 60,000ft (18km) and 90,000ft (27km) – above the altitude of commercial airplanes – so it would not be affected by weather.

Jay Parikh, vice-president of engineering, said:

[pull_quote_center]“Our mission is to connect everybody in the world. This is going to be a great opportunity for us to motivate the industry to move faster on this technology.”[/pull_quote_center]

Previously, Facebook a year ago launched Internet.org, an initiative to provide access to the two-thirds of the world and to connect them.

Parikh also said that:

[pull_quote_center]”Facebook was not planning to sell the drones but would use them to expand internet access.”[/pull_quote_center]

Mark Zuckerberg on his Facebook page expressed his pleasure regarding this project as he said:

Also Read: Facebook Launched Internet.org with Telenor in Pakistan