Google internet balloon fails in remote area in DRC

A connected balloon flying 20 kilometers above sea level, launched by Google to extend Internet access in remote areas, was found on the ground in a province in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where rumor had falsely spoken of the fall of a satellite. The Loon project balloon, piloted by Alphabet, the parent company of Google, was found in Bas-Uélé province on August 24, Congolese authorities said. " I confirm that Loon executed a controlled landing of one of our stratospheric balloons in this region, " a spokesperson for the project told AFP.

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The craft landed with a " relatively low " speed , without " any risk at any time for the inhabitants ", he added. This company presents itself on its website as " pioneer of a new era of stratospheric communication to extend Internet access throughout the world ". Each balloon carries equipment that allows communications with the ground where the installation of relay antennas is impossible. Loon had started sending balloons over Kenya last year.

The Congolese authorities have confirmed the presence of the strange balloon in the province of Bas-Uélé, without confirming the thesis of a controlled landing. In a letter to the governor of the province, the Congolese civil aviation authority said it had authorized a team mandated by the Loon company to recover the rest of the equipment. The American company has signed " a memorandum of understanding " with the DRC which allows " to provide assistance to a ground team in the event of a stratospheric balloon failure and a forced landing on the territory of the DRC ", noted Jean Tshiumba, director general of the civil aviation authority in his letter dated August 26.

Authorities in Bas-Uélé said there was no intervention. " Until today, the equipment is intact, the police guard the place and there is a formal ban " from accessing the site, told AFP Aliana Alipanagama, communications officer for the governor of Bas-Uélé , on the border with the Central African Republic. The fall of the connected balloon caused a stir on social networks, where the false rumor of the fall of a satellite has arisen.