Democratizing High-Speed Internet Access Through Solar-Powered Drones – Introducing AALTO
How AALTO’s Solar-Powered Drones Are Set To Revolutionize Rural Connectivity
ALTO aims to provide affordable high-speed internet access to remote areas using solar-powered drones.
Background: After Alphabet (Google) closed its Loon project in 2021, some key technologies were integrated into another Alphabet project called AALTO.
Technology: Unlike Loon’s weather balloons, AALTO uses Zephyr solar-powered drones that offer better stability due to their fixed-wing design.
Acquisition: Airbus obtained the fixed-wing drone technology from the UK Ministry of Defence and Space spinoff QinetiQ in 2013.
Operation: Each drone covers up to 7,500 square kilometers of ground surface, operating for months on solar power only and requiring a battery swap every six months.
Market Strategy: AALTO targets partnerships with carriers and government agencies while considering temporary deployments during natural disasters when cell towers are down.
By utilizing solar-powered drones, AALTO strives to make high-speed internet accessible even in rural locations without existing infrastructure.
