Kenya has today signed an agreement to allow Google Loon balloons to access the Kenya airspace to enhance 4G network coverage. This is to enable Kenyans access internet as they work from home during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
The plan is also aimed at helping Kenya provide e-learning for millions of students who are on forced holiday over the global crisis.
The ambitious project by Alphabet and Loon Google’s parent and sister company was to use solar powered giant balloons to beam high-speed internet to remote parts of Kenya had remained grounded by bureaucracy for two years after it was announced in 2018.
Google’s sister-company Loon had announced its first commercial deal to partner with Telkom Kenya to deliver connectivity to the region, this never took place.
the president announced today that the deal which has been waiting for regulatory approval was a go.
As at Now the closest Google Loon Balloon that is airborne is off the Reunion Island 2,556 km from Mombasa moving at 8 knots.
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