Loon LLC

Loon LLC
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	2011
Founder	Alphabet Inc. (as parent)
Fate	Operations terminated January 2021
Headquarters	United States
Area served	Rural and isolated regions worldwide
Key people	Eric "Astro" Teller (CEO)
Products	Internet access via high-altitude balloons
Parent	Alphabet Inc.

Loon LLC operated as a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. with the mission of providing Internet access to underserved rural and isolated regions through the use of high-altitude balloons positioned in the stratosphere at elevations ranging from to . These balloons created an airborne wireless network capable of delivering speeds up to 1 Mbit/s. Initially launched as an R&D project under X (previously known as Google X) in 2011, it was spun off into an independent company by July 2018.

The balloons maintained their course by altering their altitude to catch prevailing wind currents, utilizing meteorological information supplied by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). End users connected to the network through specially designed antennas, which linked them via the balloon mesh network to ground stations connected with Internet service providers, thus enabling worldwide Internet access.

In January 2021, Alphabet declared the termination of Loon’s operations, citing unviable commercial returns.

Considered acquisition that did not proceed

In 2008, Google explored the possibility of partnering with or acquiring Space Data Corp., a company that deployed balloons equipped with small base stations approximately above ground to serve truck drivers and oil industry clients in the southern United States. However, this potential acquisition was ultimately not pursued.

Project inception and public reveal

Development unofficially started within Google X in 2011, conducting initial tests in California’s Central Valley. The project was publicly introduced as a Google initiative on June 14, 2013.

Initial balloon deployments

On June 16, 2013, around 30 balloons were launched near Tekapo in New Zealand, operating in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority. Approximately 50 users near Christchurch tested connectivity using specialized antennas. Following these trials, Google planned to deploy a fleet of 300 balloons along the 40th parallel south to provide coverage across New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and Argentina, with ambitions to eventually operate thousands of balloons in the stratosphere.

Field trials and real-world use

The first individual to gain Internet access through a Loon balloon was Charles Nimmo, a farmer and entrepreneur located near Christchurch who had no broadband service. Local testers installed receivers roughly the size of a basketball on their properties to connect to the network. Prior satellite Internet options could cost as much as $1000 per month.

This technology sought to decrease dependence on costly underground fiber optic cables and aimed to broaden Internet availability in developing areas such as Africa and Southeast Asia where fiber installation is economically challenging. Alphabet regarded this initiative as instrumental in boosting global Internet adoption rates.

Strategic partnerships and expanded deployments

In May 2014, Google X director Eric "Astro" Teller revealed a shift in strategy: rather than attempting to secure free bandwidth worldwide, Loon’s balloons would function as temporary base stations leased by local mobile operators. This approach was developed by Kai Wulff, Access Field Development Director, who brought extensive experience from fiber and broadband rollouts in Emerging Markets since the early 2000s.

During May and June 2014, Google carried out its inaugural LTE tests using balloon-based Internet connectivity in Piauí, Brazil, marking a significant milestone close to the equator.

That same year, Google collaborated with France’s Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES) to further advance the project.

On July 28, 2015, Google entered into an agreement with Sri Lanka’s Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) for large-scale deployment of the technology. By March 2016, Sri Lanka was positioned to become only the second nation after Vatican City to achieve comprehensive Internet coverage via LTE.

Laser communication trials

In February 2016, Google showcased a reliable laser-based communication link between two balloons separated by 62 miles (100 km), sustaining a data transfer rate of 155 Mbit/s continuously for several hours across both daytime and nighttime conditions.

On February 25, 2016, testing commenced for an automated balloon launcher called "Chicken Little" at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, aimed at improving deployment speed and efficiency.

Patent dispute

Space Data initiated legal action against Google in May 2017 over alleged patent infringements, which was ultimately resolved through a settlement reached in July 2019.

Assistance for Puerto Rico

Following Hurricane Maria, on October 6, 2017, Google obtained FCC approval to deploy a fleet of 30 balloons to deliver emergency LTE coverage across Puerto Rico. These balloons functioned by relaying communications between ground stations and mobile handsets, necessitating over-the-air updates to enable Band 8 (900 MHz) compatibility, with plans to deactivate this feature once the authorization period concluded. Governor Ricardo Rosselló officially announced the Loon Project’s launch on October 8 after receiving regulatory clearance.

By October 9, several balloons were actively monitored near Puerto Rico. The initiative had been spun off into Loon Inc but continued operating within X until July 2018. On November 9, Google launched multiple balloons from Nevada destined for Puerto Rico with the goal of connecting approximately 100,000 individuals.

Formation as standalone company

On July 11, 2018, X declared that Loon would become an independent subsidiary under Alphabet. Loon secured its inaugural commercial contract with Telkom Kenya to extend Internet access to underserved rural areas, targeting service commencement in 2019.

On April 26, 2019, Loon entered a partnership with SoftBank and received an investment of $125 million.

Significant achievements

By July 23, 2019, Loon announced its balloon fleet had accumulated over one million hours of flight time in the stratosphere. CTO Sal Candido explained autonomous navigation strategies such as tacking and loitering that optimize Internet signal delivery.

In October 2020, a team from Rice University, Stanford University, NYU, and NorthWest Research Associates secured funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation to analyze high-resolution atmospheric data collected by Loon balloons for studying stratospheric gravity waves—research intended to enhance climate and weather forecasting models.

On October 28, 2020, Loon set a new endurance record when balloon HBAL703 remained aloft for 312 days traveling from Puerto Rico to Baja California, Mexico.

Project termination

Alphabet announced the discontinuation of Loon on January 21, 2021. CEO Astro Teller cited the prolonged development timeline and commercial risks despite nearly a decade of technical progress. A Wired article highlighted that Internet penetration in Loon’s target regions rose from 75% to 93% over ten years; however, the cost of affordable 4G devices continued to limit broader adoption. The pilot program in Kenya concluded in March 2021 alongside a $10 million commitment supporting local nonprofits and enterprises focused on connectivity, entrepreneurship, and education.

Network connectivity

The initiative aimed to provide Internet access in remote and rural locations lacking adequate infrastructure while also enhancing communications during natural disaster events.

Balloons employed patch antennas—directional antennas—to send signals either to terrestrial stations or directly to LTE users. Certain smartphones equipped with Google SIM cards could access Google’s Internet services. The system was based on LTE technology; each balloon carried an onboard eNodeB (functionally similar to a base station) that communicated directly with mobile devices.

Initially, communication between balloons utilized unlicensed frequencies in the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz ISM bands, delivering speeds comparable to 3G. Subsequently, Google transitioned to LTE using licensed cellular spectrum through collaborations with local telecom providers. It remained unclear how latency-sensitive applications such as VoIP would perform within a network architecture where signals traverse multiple balloons before connecting to the Internet. Google also experimented with laser communication links between high-altitude balloons, achieving data transmission speeds of up to 155 Mbit/s over distances of approximately 100 km.

Stratospheric balloons

Loon launched its network of high-altitude balloons into the stratosphere at elevations ranging from 18 km to 25 km, focusing on atmospheric layers characterized by low wind velocities (5–20 mph) and limited turbulence. The company analyzed seasonal and regional wind patterns to strategically position the balloons.

The balloons’ locations were managed by modifying altitude through a variable buoyancy mechanism that adjusted the internal gas volume and density, employing helium, hydrogen, or other lighter-than-air gases. The balloon materials were likely composed of substances such as metalized Mylar, BoPET, or flexible latex-like films.

Balloons and their electronics

The balloon envelopes, developed by Raven Aerostar and inspired by the Super Pressure Balloon design, consisted of polyethylene approximately thick. Each helium-filled balloon measured about wide and tall. They incorporated a specialized air pump system named "Croce," which controlled altitude by injecting or releasing air as ballast.

Suspended beneath each balloon was a 10-kg electronics module containing circuit boards, radio antennas, and a Ubiquiti Networks Rocket M2 device for communication with other balloons and ground stations. Solar panels positioned between the envelope and hardware supplied 100 watts under full sunlight, powering the equipment and charging batteries for operation during nighttime.

To facilitate controlled descent and payload retrieval upon decommissioning, a Raven Aerostar Payload Recovery Parachute was attached; it also deployed automatically in case of failure. Typical balloon operational duration was around 100 days, with enhancements in design potentially extending this period close to 200 days.

Balloons were equipped with ADS-B transponders, enabling public tracking under the call sign "HBAL."

Ground stations

Prototype ground stations utilized a Ubiquiti Networks 'Rocket M5' radio paired with a custom patch antenna to establish connections with balloons at altitude. These stations formed the foundational infrastructure for the airborne internet delivery system, often referred to as Google Balloon Internet.

Key people

Prominent individuals involved included Rich DeVaul, chief technical architect and expert in wearable technology; Mike Cassidy, who led the project; and Cyrus Behroozi, responsible for networking and telecommunications.

Legacy

Loon LLC’s technological innovations continue to shape telecommunications infrastructure across Africa. Project Taara employs wireless optical communication techniques developed by Loon to connect balloons separated by over 100 km, thereby enhancing high-speed internet availability throughout Kenya and neighboring regions. By 2021, Taara closed a significant 3-mile connectivity gap between Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, exemplifying Loon’s enduring influence on underserved areas despite environmental challenges such as fog prevalent in locations like San Francisco.

Incidents

On May 29, 2014, a Loon balloon collided with power lines in Washington, United States.
Emergency services in New Zealand were briefly mobilized on June 20, 2014, following the descent of a Loon balloon.
In November 2014, a farmer discovered a crashed Loon balloon in the Karoo desert between Strydenburg and Britstown.
A Loon balloon crashed near Bragg City, Missouri on April 23, 2015.
On September 12, 2015, a balloon landed on a residential lawn in Rancho Hills, Chino Hills, California.
During testing on February 17, 2016, a balloon crashed in Sri Lanka’s tea-growing area near Gampola.
A Loon balloon touched down on a farm in Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on April 7, 2016.
On April 22, 2016, another balloon crashed in a field within Paraguay’s Ñeembucú Department.
August 22, 2016 saw a balloon land on ranch property near Formosa, Argentina.
A landing occurred northwest of Madison, South Dakota on August 26, 2016.
Near Sieyic close to Changuinola, Panama, a balloon crashed on January 9, 2017.
Two balloons landed near Cerro Chato and Mariscala in Uruguay on January 8 and January 10 of 2017 respectively.
A crash occurred in Buriti dos Montes, Brazil on February 17, 2017.
On March 14 and March 19 of that year, balloons crashed in San Luis, Tolima, Colombia and Tacuarembó, Uruguay respectively.
A Loon balloon crashed in Peru’s Olmos, Lambayeque region on August 9, 2017.
In Nthambiro, Igembe Central within Meru County, Kenya, a balloon crashed on December 30, 2017.
Most recently recorded was a crash into a tree in Tocantins, Brazil on March 1, 2021.

Reception

Loon received predominantly positive feedback; however, developers involved with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and members of the astronomical community raised concerns about potential interference. They highlighted that Loon's operation within the 2.4 GHz ISM band might disrupt the mid-band frequency spectrum (0.5 GHz–3 GHz), which is vital for their scientific initiatives.

Beyond technical issues, Loon encountered various international challenges, including complications related to spectrum management, regulation of national airspace, fees associated with overflight permissions, and restrictions imposed by Internet censorship policies.

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