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Facebook’s plans for its internet drone that would provide internet service to developing countries is officially dead. The idea was that its Aquila aircraft would fly at high altitudes while beaming down internet signals to remote parts of the world that didn’t have any sort of internet support.
The company recently took to Facebook and posted a message stating that since they started developing their Aquila drone in 2014, other aerospace companies rushed to the space and started developing their own aircraft with the same idea.
Yael Maguire, a director of engineering at the social networking company, writes in the post,
Given these developments, we’ve decided not to design or build our own aircraft any longer.
To me, it sounds like there’s a lot more Facebook isn’t telling us. Why work on something for four years only to give it the pink slip? Honestly, I think we’ll find out more in the coming weeks.
For now, Facebook says the Aquila project will keep trudging along in some small capacity. The company claims they’re collaborating with partners like Airbus on other projects that would help developing countries get online. In other words, help developing countries get their residents on Facebook.
Did you ever think this internet drone project would actually take off or take a nose dive? Let us know your thoughts.
For more Facebook news, check out:
- Facebook is working on AI that opens your blinking eyes in photos
- Damn, Facebook Messenger is going to put video ads in your personal chats
- Facebook adds more gun advertising restrictions on site
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