Telecom Future: An Insight
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The document discusses the evolving telecom industry amid competition from tech giants like Google and Facebook, who are developing space-based internet solutions using balloons and drones. Google’s Project Loon aims to provide affordable internet using stratospheric balloons, while Facebook is focusing on drone technology, with both companies pursuing a competitive edge in connectivity. Additionally, SpaceX plans to launch satellites offering high-speed internet, but the overall success of these innovations depends on regulatory acceptance and partnerships with local telecom operators.
Telecom Future: An Insight
- 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.