| Weather balloons floating in the Earth's | | | | an issue in Britain that many rural areas are unable |
| atmosphere at the moment could possibly be | | | | to receive a wireless signal or are expected to |
| used to provide mobile phone and broadband | | | | pay over the odds in order to get one, therefore, |
| services to Rural Britain. | | | | meaning that they have no option for cheap |
| An American company, Space Data, has had | | | | broadband. Consequently, if this idea was to take |
| success with an innovative idea, whereby it | | | | off, there would be a large number of people who |
| attaches small phone masts to weather balloons. | | | | would benefit. |
| This then provides isolated areas with wireless | | | | Space Data are very productive at the moment |
| internet access. | | | | and release around 10 balloons a day from places |
| The Arizona based group has provided military | | | | in South America that do not receive a wireless |
| and commercial clients for four years and are | | | | signal and is interested in providing its service for |
| now prepared to link their idea with telecoms and | | | | the UK. This service is one of many that have |
| broadband companies in order to bring their idea | | | | seen the potential and the financial benefits that |
| to the masses. | | | | the rural wireless connection market could offer. |
| The working behind the novel wireless provider is | | | | Space Data have said that companies that are |
| that a very small transceiver is attached to the | | | | not offering rural areas a wireless connection are |
| weather balloon that then rises to a total altitude | | | | missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars a |
| of 100,000ft. According to the company, one | | | | year. The group have said that they have tapped |
| balloon can produce a signal that is as strong as | | | | into a business that is potentially worth $10 billion |
| 80 mobile phone towers and could therefore | | | | market. |
| enable a lot more people to have broadband | | | | It would appear that there is a solution to the |
| internet connections. The company also believe | | | | wireless connection problem, however, not a very |
| that for the entire United States, 70 balloons | | | | long-term one, as the balloons last 24 hours |
| would be all that was needed to provide | | | | before they burst. The expensive equipment then |
| everyone with wireless internet. | | | | has to be retrieved; this is done using GPS |
| The balloons are released by local farmers and | | | | devices. Environmental groups have said that they |
| other land workers who are paid to deploy them. | | | | fear that the burst balloons could prove a threat |
| The balloons are released in areas that have not | | | | to any animals that may eat the latex. |
| had wireless internet connections due to the | | | | The limited time that the balloons last could prove |
| companies who provide them considering it | | | | expensive and difficult, however, if the company |
| uneconomic, as there are few people in the area. | | | | could arrive at an idea that would enable the |
| Around 20% of the United States is out of range | | | | balloons to last longer, then the skies the limit. |
| for any wireless connection, and it has long been | | | | |