KARLA LANT, FUTURISM
9 OCT 2017
Google has received a license from the FCC to deploy its Project Loon balloons over Puerto Rico and parts of the Virgin Islands.
Google will be able to provide coverage there until 4 April, 2018. If all goes according to plan, the helium balloons will provide emergency LTE cellular reception to local governments and residents, allowing them to contact family and friends.
It will also enable them to reestablish communication with the outside world and manage relief efforts. At the time of writing, it is uncertain how much of Puerto Rico will be covered, which areas of the Virgin Islands will be covered, or how many balloons Google will deploy.
