Facebook In Acquisition Talks With Drone Manufacturer Titan Aerospace To Further Internet.org Alliance
You have to hand it to Mark Zuckerberg: He is not screwing around when it comes to his ambitious Internet.org venture to connect the entire world to the Internet, at least if the rumors are true that Facebook is going to buy drone maker Titan Aerospace for $60 million.
Titan Aerospace makes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, and Facebook would most certainly be interested in the devices’ ability to carry networking equipment that could provide Internet access for all.
Credit: Titan Aerospace
Titan’s Solara 50 and Solara 60 models appear to be the main target here. The UAVs can be launched anytime powered by an internal battery, and when the sun comes up they’ll rely on solar power to climb to a height of 20 kilometers (over 65,000 feet) and remain in flight for up to five years without ever having to land.
The UAVs offer a variety of potential uses from weather applications to imaging, but the key feature that has Zuckerberg’s appetite whet is the ability to carry communications equipment. Facebook reportedly wants to launch 11,000 of these drones over areas without Internet access, starting with Africa.
Credit: Titan Aerospace
TechCrunch was informed about the deal by a source outside the company and since confirmed with Titan Aerospace that it is indeed in acquisition talks with Facebook.
It’s worth noting that although the rumored $60 million price tag for Titan Aerospace is nothing compared to the $19 billion that Facebook just dropped on WhatsApp, the two could be used together. Facebook could easily leverage WhatsApp to provide an efficient communications app that works on drone-enabled Internet.
Titan Aerospace makes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, and Facebook would most certainly be interested in the devices’ ability to carry networking equipment that could provide Internet access for all.
Credit: Titan Aerospace
Titan’s Solara 50 and Solara 60 models appear to be the main target here. The UAVs can be launched anytime powered by an internal battery, and when the sun comes up they’ll rely on solar power to climb to a height of 20 kilometers (over 65,000 feet) and remain in flight for up to five years without ever having to land.
The UAVs offer a variety of potential uses from weather applications to imaging, but the key feature that has Zuckerberg’s appetite whet is the ability to carry communications equipment. Facebook reportedly wants to launch 11,000 of these drones over areas without Internet access, starting with Africa.
Credit: Titan Aerospace
TechCrunch was informed about the deal by a source outside the company and since confirmed with Titan Aerospace that it is indeed in acquisition talks with Facebook.
It’s worth noting that although the rumored $60 million price tag for Titan Aerospace is nothing compared to the $19 billion that Facebook just dropped on WhatsApp, the two could be used together. Facebook could easily leverage WhatsApp to provide an efficient communications app that works on drone-enabled Internet.
