Facebook wants to help India in providing internet access in remote areas. Here’s how

Facebook is in talks with the Indian government and telecom companies over its pilot programmes to provide internet access in remote areas.

Facebook wants to use its solar-powered plane -‘Aquila’- to provide the infrastructure needed to offer affordable mobile internet access in remote areas.

Aquila is a solar-powered airplane with a wingspan of 141feet. Each plane can be in the air for up to 90 days at a time, beaming internet signals to people within a 96-km diameter.

It is already partnering with companies for its Express Wi-Fi project to provide broadband services in rural parts.

Robert Pepper, Facebook's Connectivity Public Policy Director, told ET, “Having fibre-like speeds in places without fibre and making it available to anybody is the reason why there's so much interest in Aquila. We have begun discussions with telecom operators to see which ones might be interested.”

He said Aquila will come in handy for companies who do not want to invest much in rural and remote areas.

"There is a huge amount of interest, but it is very early stages. Telcos that don't find it feasible to create the infrastructure for internet services in rural areas - given the lack of demand - can use Facebook's Aquila as a platform to deliver mobile broadband. Once such a service generates adequate demand, the operators could build their own infrastructure and the Aquila planes can be moved to another location,” said Pepper.

Facebook tested its first Aquila over Yuma, Arizona, in June.

(Image: Reuters)