Will Help Connect Areas Where Wireless Service Remains Out

The Alphabet X Project Loon has been granted an "experimental license" to provide wireless service to parts of Puerto Rico hit hard by hurricane Maria, and which remain without cell phone service.

Engadget reports that an X spokesperson said that the FCC issued the limited license to use the Loon Balloons to provide emergency cellular LTE connectivity. The spokesperson said the next step is to identify a telco partner and begin integration into their network, which Alphabet is "making solde progress on."

According to the FCC, 83 percent of Puerto Rico remains without cell service. All counties in Puerto Rico, except Bayamon, Carolina, Guaynabo, San Juan, and Toa Baja, have greater than 75% of their cell sites out of service. 22 (down from 24 yesterday) out of the 78 counties in Puerto Rico have 100% of their cell sites out of service. Wireless communications providers are deploying to Puerto Rico Cell Sites on Wheels and Cell Sites on Light Trucks.

Since there are widespread power outages in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the FCC has received reports that large percentages of consumers are without either cable services or wireline service (one company had reported that 100% of its consumers are out of service due to lack of commercial power but told us earlier this week that services are beginning to be restored), the FCC said in its report.

Project Loon uses high-altitude balloons to relay wireless communications. The company helped Peru reestablish cell service in March after extreme rains and flooding hit that nation.

The Alphabet X spokesperson said in a statement "We're grateful for the support of the FCC and the Puerto Rican authorities as we work hard to see if it's possible to use Loon balloons to bring emergency connectivity to the island during this time of need. To deliver signal to people's devices, Loon needs be integrated with a telco partner's network — the balloons can't do it alone. We've been making solid progress on this next step and would like to thank everyone who's been lending a hand.

(FCC map provided)

FMI: Original Report, FCC Report