[bjacobt]

Loon from Google/Alphabet [1]. They are attempting to connect remote and rural areas of the world. They are currently providing commercial service in a difficult to reach/low ARPU area in Kenya [2].

Loon uses standard 3GPP (LTE) protocols, so devices are available at low cost and even lower in used markets.

I don't work for Loon or Google, just interested in HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo Satellites) to provide low cost connectivity.

[1] https://loon.com/

[2] https://medium.com/loon-for-all/loon-is-live-in-kenya-259d81...

Edit: fixed references

[Mayzie]

Wow, Project Loon. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about it. It seems kind of pointless now, doesn’t it? StarLink will displace it in a couple of years.

[bjacobt]

One disadvantage with Starlink is the need for external antenna. With HAPS, project Loon and HAPS Mobile [1], you can use regular mobile phones and modems making it cost effective for most people. The idea would be for an operator to have terrestrial network in urban/sub urban areas and high altitude cell towers in less dense areas. This way you can use the same subscription and device.

Starlink could also be used to provide backhaul to cell towers which work with standard 3GPP protocol and provide the same service as terrestrial networks.

HAPS Mobile has got a good video (< 5 min) on what it is and their vision [2]

[1] https://www.hapsmobile.com/en/

[2] https://youtu.be/zxWODb6Uqgs

Edit: I've no affiliation with HAPS Mobile, Softbank, Google :)

[harha]

Would be nice to see a benchmark on large scale deployment overall and individual cost, reliability, etc.

I also think that fast(er) internet without relying on governments could be interesting for many people in presumably developed countries like France and Germany and make living outside of large cities much more attractive to many.