Facebook working on delivering high speed internet using drones and satellites

WASHINGTON: Facebook, the world's largest social networking platform, is working on laser technology to deliver high speed internet through drones or satellites.

"Our Connectivity Lab is developing a laser communications system that can beam data from the sky into communities. This will dramatically increase the speed of sending data over long distances," Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg today said on his social media page.

The California-headquartered firm has been working on developing technology to use drones and satellites to provide internet to people. It has also approached the Indian government in past for carrying out pilot project in the country.

"As part of our Internet.org efforts, we're working on ways to use drones and satellites to connect the billion people who don't live in range of existing wireless networks. Normally you wouldn't be able to see the actual beams," the billionaire tech investor said.

Facebook had started Internet.org in partnership with telecom players in select markets. Under the project people in developing countries, including India, can access some websites without paying for mobile internet charges.

Facebook, which owns mobile messaging application WhatsApp, is counted among over-the-top (OTT) players that provide calling and messaging services.

Telecom operators have been up in arms against OTT players and allege that their services are eating in to their core revenue which is detrimental for setting up telecom infrastructure required for providing internet services.

An alternate communication technology may help OTT players bypass traditional telecom operators.

"This is just one connectivity project we're working on, but I was excited to share this with you," Zuckerberg said.