Facebook may be getting closer to its goal to make the internet accessible to the entire planet.

Media reports say its in talks to buy solar powered drone maker Titan Aerospace for $60 million.

The so-called "atmospheric satellites"could beam internet signals around the world.

Titan CEO Vern Raburn woundn't comment on any deal, but told Reuters Titan has flown a scaled down prototype of the plane. Commercial operations are scheduled for 2015.

The concept is similar to Google's Project Loon- aiming at using solar powered air balloons to beam the internet to remote regoins.

According to TechCrunch, they would build 11,000 solar powered drones that could stay in the air for 5 years, and would provide 3G internet access in regions like Africa.

To avoid legal issues, they would stay above FAA regulated airspace. But there could be other red flags.

Getting the whole world online is a dream of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's. He spoke about it, and the internet.org effort- at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Titan Aerospace is privately held and based in New Mexico.

Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Pathways to peace
Updated 27 Apr, 2026

Pathways to peace

NEGOTIATIONS to hammer out the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement took nearly two years before a breakthrough was achieved....
Food-insecure nation
27 Apr, 2026

Food-insecure nation

A NEW UN-backed report has listed Pakistan among 10 countries where acute food insecurity is most concentrated. This...
Migration toll
27 Apr, 2026

Migration toll

THE world should not be deceived by a global migration count lower than the highest annual statistics on record —...
Immunity gap
Updated 26 Apr, 2026

Immunity gap

Pakistan’s Big Catch-Up campaign showed progress but also exposed the scale of gaps in routine immunisation.
Danger on repeat
26 Apr, 2026

Danger on repeat

DISASTERS have typically been framed as acts of nature. Of late, they look increasingly like tests of preparedness...
Loose lips
26 Apr, 2026

Loose lips

PAKISTANIS have by now gained something of an international reputation for their gallows humour, but it seems that...