Facebook: Aquila drones ready to bring connection anywhere

Facebook’s ambitious project to bring connectivity to even the most remote areas of the world is beginning to take shape.
This is evidenced by the fact that the first prototypes of the “Aquila” drones are ready and will be used to begin testing phases.
The Aquila drones have, in fact, been designed and created to bring the web to every area of the world, naturally meaning all those areas where connections are completely lacking, due to poverty or geographical conformation.
So don’t think of common drones, therefore small and easy to handle: Facebook’s Aquila is a project that is not only quite complex but above all imposing.
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 of a car.
This particular structure allows the Aquila drones to fly above areas reserved for commercial flights and thus – at the same time – theoretically it will also be possible to avoid the risk of encountering dangers and discomforts 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 area covered by Aquila’s wing structure allow for the placement 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 full recharge cycle and to undergo necessary maintenance.

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