Covid-19: Alphabet’s giant Internet balloons to boost anti-virus efforts in Kenya

A high altitude WiFi internet hub, a Google Project Loon balloon, on display at the Airforce Museum in Christchurch. Loon and Telkom, that’s partly owned by private-equity firm Helios Investment Partners LLP, have been testing the service for the last two years, and have so far installed ground stations in Nairobi and two other towns. — AFP

Kenya has approved a project by Alphabet Inc’s unit Loon and Telkom Kenya to begin broadcasting high-speed Internet from huge balloons hovering over the country’s airspace.

The project, part of Kenya’s plans for a technology hub, is being expedited to help in quelling the current challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. Kenya has 16 confirmed Covid-19 cases.