Google's Project SkyBender Would Beam 5G Internet From Solar-Powered Drones

Google has started work on a new solar-powered drone which can then beam high-speed internet down to the ground.

The Guardian has revealed that the top-secret project is called 'Project Skybender' and is being operated out of Virgin Galactic's Gateway to Space terminal in New Mexico.

Unlike 'Project Loon' which would use high-altitude balloons to deliver regular internet connectivity Google's drone project would specifically focus on delivering 5G internet speeds - many times faster than most broadband connections in the UK.

This gigabyte-connection would allow mobile devices, homes and vehicles to receive data at 40 times the speed that it currently does over 4G.

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The drones would utilise high frequency millimetre waves to send and receive the information, which is a problem. Millimetre waves are nowhere near as congested as the current frequency bands that mobile phones use however they come with the significant disadvantage which is that they have a very short range.

This means that the drones would need to be very high-powered in order to send out a strong enough signal. To compensate for the simple fact that a solar drone can't do this Google is working on a revolutionary technique called phased array.

This would focus the beam towards its destination, preventing widespread degradation of the signal and overcoming the issues with trying to provide coverage for a wide area.

According to the Guardian, emails have revealed that Google has free use of Virgin Galactic's runway and even the airspace over a nearby US Military base.

This isn't the first time Google has dabbled in the world of drones, back in October 2015 the company revealed Project Wing - a drone delivery aircraft that could take off vertically and then fly like a conventional aircraft.

This would presumably become then a rival to Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service which has already set the ambitious target of delivering most of its parcels from depot to front door in just 30 minutes.