Google, an IT giant has been asked by government to submit a fresh proposal for conducting the test of balloon-based internet technology for loon project following the objections picked about the use of spectrum band that it had proposed earlier. Ravi shankar prasad, the telecom minister, in a written reply said that Department of Electronics and Information technology was approached to conduct pilot test of Project loon in India. On discussion about the matter with the stakeholders it was found that the frequency band 700-900 MHz that was to be used for pilot test of project loon was being used by cellular operators. The usage of same band would have caused interference in cellular transmission.
The project will enable direct transmission of signals to 4g phones by replacing mobile tower. Google will be using big balloons under the project. The balloons will float 20 km above the Earth surface for transmission of internet service. The technology has already been tested in New Zealand, Brazil and California. Each balloon will provide connectivity to a ground area of about 40 km in diameter with the use of wireless communication technology i.e. LTE or 4G. Prasad informs that the revised proposal form with changed frequency band is yet to be received.
A pilot test is already being carried out by an autonomous body under DeitY, to determine utilization of tv white space so that internet connectivity can be established in gram panchayats. The part of spectrum that remains unutilized while transmitting broadcast signals is utilized by the TV whitespace. The band 470- 582 MHz is being used for the technology for utilization of it in commercial mobile services. The complaints of consumer not receiving signals inside buildings and basements are not there in much more efficient TV whitespace. TV whitespace can penetrate many obstacles as compared to only 2 walls in case of WiFi signals. They provide coverage up to 10 kms.
