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1. By : Ijaz Haider Malik – SM Projects
An Insight intoTelecomFuture
For last few years, it is almost impossible to predict the future of Telecom industry. New
Technologies and bigger internet players are ready to change the complete telecom game and
its rules. Competition has come to another turf which was not known to the current telecom
players. Still, Over the Top (OTT)1
episode is not over and space telecom brought orthodox
telecomserviceprovideronthe verge of anotherwar,whichtheyhave tofightfortheirsurvival.
Competitionis not a choice, only coopetition on the terms of big players can be considered.
Message is clearfrom the big players,“Watch out birdsand telecomservice providers,internet
routers not have wings and balloons to fly”.
Atcurrent,the biggestcontendersare Googleand Facebook.Bothgiantsmakingstatementsthat
they are only launching their new services to help the world to provide connectivity where
conventional telecom industry does not have reach: remote areas. But, the fact is yet not
revealed that weather their statements are aligned to what they claim or they would be
launching it to gain more profits.
Google and Facebook officially announced that their
apparatuses would be flying in near space to provide
connectivity to the world. Announcements were made in
Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (Mar 2015). Google
executive said that Google’s project Loon Balloons which fly in
near space (stratosphere2
) toprovide costeffective internetto
unconnected areas. Now, these balloons can fly for 180 days.
Before, these were flying for 100 days only. Googles official
tagline,” Balloon-powered internet for everyone”.
In April 2014, Google alsosnatchedthe deal fromFacebookby
buyingTitanAerospace.Google boughtthecompanyasitssolar
powereddronescanremaininspace for50years.Google would
like to have upper edge as space telecom internet provider.
Their biggest competitionis with Facebookdrones and buying
Titan Aerospace help Google to remain on top in the game.
1 Over The Top (OTT) are InstantMessages (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Line), Skype,IPTV
2 Second layer major layer ofearth atmosphere.Normally starts at20KMfrom earthsurface

2. How Google Loons Work?
Google balloons fly in stratosphere about 20Km above the
earth.Stratosphere hasdifferentlayersandballoonsflyineach
layer. Each movement controlled by base station computers.
Togetherall balloonsforma networkto provide 100% internet
coverage. Google started Project Loon in June 2013. Thirty
balloons were launched from New Zealand’s South Island and
beamedInternettoasmall groupof pilottesters. Stilltestingin
progressand complete range of balloonsshall be senttospace
once 100% results achieved.
Facebook CEO said in MWC that they are also planning to launch Wi-Fi Dronesin 2015. Size of
drone wouldbe 747 aero plane andit wouldbe flyingatthe heightof 60 to 90,000 feet. He also
cleared that they won’t be planning for balloons and will stick to drones technology.
SpaceX Satellites. Elon Musk confirmed that satellites will be sent to space to provide internet
servicestothe world. ThirdcompetitorinSpace Telecom. AccordingtoThe Wall StreetJournal,
SpaceX will weigh 113Kg and each satellite costs $1 Billion. Around700 tiny sized satellites are
plannedtobe launchedinspace.However,still itisnotclear that how many tripseach satellite
shall take in orbit and for how long? According to Elon, unrestrained connectivity shall be
provided to customers at very low cost. Satellitesshall fly at 750 miles above the earth surface
and provides internet speed equivalent to Fiber optics.
Google Toon Vs. Facebook Titan
Attributes Google Toon Facebook Titan
Apparatus remains in space 180 days 1826 Days
Size 49 x 39 feet 120 x 49.2 Feet
Pay load 22 lbs 250 lbs
Altitude 60-90,000 ft 65,000 ft
Coverage 485 Sq. Mi 1018 Sq. Mi
PROS CONS
Maximumcoverage Drones/ Balloonscanfall inpopulatedareas
Cost effective Still manyyearsrequiredformaturityand
acceptance
HighSpeedinternet Privacy/ Security concernsof manycountries
Works incase of natural disasters/
emergencieslikeearthquakes,floods,etc.
Aeroplanesrouteswhile landingandtakingoff
wouldbe affected
Strongwindscouldthrow away balloonsand
drones
To conclude, still market can rely on GSM and Landline communications. Space telecom needs
at least 2 to 3 years to mature their concepts. Due to security and secrecy concerns, Asian
countrieswouldbe reluctanttoallow balloonsanddronestoflyintheirterritory.UnlessGoogle
and Facebook take Asian governments into their confidence and offer partnerships with local
operators. Landline operators can also generate revenue from Space telecom operators by
providingconnectivitytobasestations.Base stationswill beusedtocontroldronesandballoons.

3. Also it is very much possible that soon another innovation beat the current odds and bring in
another big change.