Google Project Loon wins contract to connect remotest parts of the Amazon
Only half the world's population have internet connectivity, so companies are finding new ways to connect the remainder.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2019) 'Google Project Loon wins contract to connect remotest parts of the Amazon', 311 Institute, 15 December. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/google-project-loon-wins-contract-to-connect-remotest-parts-of-the-amazon/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Today the fact that over half the world’s population don’t have access to the internet or quality broadband have prompted companies like Alphabet, Facebook, and SpaceX to launch everything from balloons and solar powered drones that fly in the stratosphere, to tens of thousands of low Earth orbit satellites, in order to connect the last 3.5 billion people on the planet. And now Alphabet, whose Project Loon balloons I’ve spoken about before, have just announced that they’ve signed a new commercial agreement with Internet Para Todos Perú in Peru to provide mobile internet connectivity to parts of the Amazon rainforest starting in 2020.
The agreement means that the Loon team now have the chance to use their high altitude internet balloons, combined with mobile internet from Telefónica, a part owner of Internet Para Todos Perú, to connect some of the most remote regions of Latin America and finally bring the wonders of the internet in all its finery to the areas inhabitants.
Alphabet’s blog says that the deployment will initially provide service to an area where nearly 200,000 people live and that the deployment will make Peru the first country in Latin America to use high altitude balloons to provide internet connectivity “on a sustained, non-emergency basis.”
Loon and Telefónica have also apparently worked together before, according to Loon’s blog. The two companies first partnered in 2014 with early tests of Loon’s technology, and then in 2017 they provided internet connectivity to parts of northern Peru following the El Niño floods, and this May, they contributed emergency connectivity following the 8.0 earthquake that hit the region.
This is Loon’s third commercial contract, following one for a commercial trial in partnership Telkom Kenya and one with Telesat, a Canadian satellite company, to use Loon’s networking software to manage low Earth orbit satellites.
What this means for your organisation
The unconnected are reachable.
Billions still lack internet access, many in remote areas. Balloons can cover places where towers are costly. Telecoms firms should map markets these platforms could open.
Partnerships make it work.
Loon provides the balloons while Telefónica supplies the mobile network. Neither could do it alone. Look for partners who fill your gaps.
Emergency use proved the case.
Loon gave connectivity after floods and an earthquake in Peru. Disaster use built trust before commercial service. Consider resilience as a route into new markets.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which remote markets could we reach with high altitude platforms?
- What partners would we need to deliver connectivity there?
- Could our services support disaster response connectivity?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Only half the world's population have internet connectivity, so companies are finding new ways to connect the remainder.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 15 December 2019. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2019). Google Project Loon wins contract to connect remotest parts of the Amazon. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/google-project-loon-wins-contract-to-connect-remotest-parts-of-the-amazon/
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