Watch out, Google. Facebook is gunning for the title of World’s Coolest Place to Work. And its arsenal includes unmanned drones, lasers, satellites and virtual reality headsets.Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and chief executive of Facebook, announced on Thursday that the company was creating a new lab of up to 50 aeronautics experts and space scientists to figure out how to beam Internet access down from solar-powered drones and other “connectivity aircraft.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/28/technology/a-new-facebook-lab-is-intent-on-delivering-internet-access-by-drone.htmlAlso see:Facebook buys UK maker of solar-powered drones to expand internet
Facebook has bought a Somerset-based designer of solar-powered drones for $20m (£12m) as it goes head-to-head with Google in a high-altitude race to connect the world’s most remote locations to the internet.Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, has unveiled plans to beam broadband connections from the skies, using satellites, lasers and unmanned high-altitude aircraft designed by the 51-year old British engineer Andrew Cox.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/mar/28/facebook-buys-uk-maker-solar-powered-drones-internetFacebook drones to offer low-cost net access
Facebook has ambitious plans to connect the two-thirds of the world that has no net access, using drones, satellites and lasers.The move was announced on the social media platform by founder Mark Zuckerberg.It will put it in direct competition with Google, which is planning to deliver net access via balloons.Both of the net giants want to extend their audiences, especially in the developing world.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26784438