The Internet.org initiative will rely on a new team at Facebook called the Connectivity Lab to develop technology on the ground, in the air and in space, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Thursday. The team will develop technology like drones and satellites to expand access to the internet across the world. “The team’s approach is based on the principle that different sized communities need different solutions and they are already working on new delivery platforms—including planes and satellites—to provide connectivity for communities with different population densities,” a post on Internet.org says. Facebook plans to connect more people to the internet via drones and satellites, which would use infrared lasers to blanket connectivity over areas with little existing infrastructure. Facebook envisions using drones that could fly for months to connect suburban areas, while more rural areas would rely on satellites.
Read the full story at Giga OM, and Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement post at Facebook.