Google launched the internet project in 2013 called the Google Loons project to extend internet connectivity to inaccessible areas those are areas like rural areas and areas affected by natural disasters. The announcement came through that Google shuts down internet project in Uganda after the Loon project CEO made it clear that the company was winding up its operations.
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The Alphabet-owned company is winding up and closing the project in some countries in Africa after it was referred to as unsustainable. In an attempt to subsidize internet connectivity for people in rural areas who cannot usually afford to pay ordinary internet rates, the Alphabet company started Project Loon in 2018 which aimed to use high altitude balloons the size of tennis courts to provide Internet to inaccessible places.
The company had already started making progress as it signed a Letter of Agreement in Kampala with officials from Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, in which high altitude solar-powered Internet balloons with floating masts over Uganda’s air space, would be established at an altitude of 500,000 feet according to the Daily Monitor.
It would then proceed to work with telecom providers just like it did in Kenya, the Loons project would then act as the bridge between these service providers and the end-users.
Reasons why Google shuts down internet project in Uganda
Due to a number of reasons, Google shuts down internet project in Uganda and several other African countries. Loon CEO explained that the company was unable to create costs low enough to drive a long-term project that would be sustainable.
In a blog post, Loon CEO Alastair Westgarth explained, “We talk a lot about connecting the next billion users, but the reality is Loon has been chasing the hardest problem of all in connectivity — the last billion users.”
“The communities in areas too difficult or remote to reach, or the areas where delivering service with existing technologies is just too expensive for everyday people. While we’ve found a number of willing partners along the way, we haven’t found a way to get the costs low enough to build a long-term, sustainable business. Developing radical new technology is inherently risky, but that doesn’t make breaking this news any easier.”
At the moment Google shuts down internet project in Uganda, a number of more countries in Africa have also been affected since the company is going to shut down completely. African countries affected by the closure of this project are Kenya, South Africa, Congo Brazzaville, Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, DR Congo, and Mozambique.
It is undeniable that the number of internet users has grown in Uganda. However, those in rural areas continue to live with no access to the internet because of failure to afford such internet rates.
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