Facebook: Die Aquila-Drohnen sind bereit, überall Konnektivität zu bringen

Facebook’s ambitious project to bring connectivity even to the most remote areas of the world is finally taking shape.
This is evidenced by the fact that the first prototypes of the „Aquila“ drones are ready and will soon be used to start the testing phases.
The Aquila drones have indeed been designed and created to bring the web to every area of the world, naturally meaning all those areas where connectivity is completely lacking, due to poverty or geographical conformation.
So don’t think of common drones, therefore small and manageable: Facebook’s Aquila is not only a rather complex project but above all an imposing one.
The drones in question actually have a wingspan comparable to that of a Boeing 737, with a „V“ shape: this allows the device to be relatively light, as it weighs 1/3 compared to a car.
This particular structure primarily allows the Aquila drones to fly above the airspace reserved for commercial flights and thus – at the same time – theoretically it will also be possible to avoid the risk of encountering dangers and disruptions arising from atmospheric phenomena. Flight will be possible between 60,000 and 90,000 feet above the ground.
Finally, the chosen shape and the surface covered by Aquila’s wing structure allow for the positioning of the solar panels necessary for the drone’s operation.
Solar-powered, in fact, will allow Aquila to fly for about 3 months, after which the device will necessarily have to return to base for a complete charging cycle and to undergo necessary maintenance.

From Facebook’s headquarters, it is specified that the creation of the Aquila drones is part of the global Internet.org project, created precisely to bring connection to remote areas of the planet; therefore, from the social network giant, there is currently no intention of transforming – or rather, expanding its business – into an internet service provider.
This project, studied using drones, will be able to provide broadband connection at 10 GB per second, over areas of approximately 50 miles below Aquila’s passage.
Facebook thus establishes itself as a concrete alternative to the digital divide, while we are still awaiting Google’s moves, which – it is worth remembering – is instead planning special aerostatic balloons carrying connectivity.