Loon, the US-based company that provides internet access to rural areas via high-altitude balloons, has agreed what it describes as a ‘global collaboration’ with AT&T, under which it has successfully integrated the Loon system with AT&T’s network. Alastair Westgarth, CEO of Loon, explained: ‘This is a big deal because this network integration will extend to AT&T’s partners around the world, meaning Loon will be able to provide service to a third-party mobile operator, assuming they have a standard international roaming relationship with AT&T. While coordination with a local operator will be crucial, Loon’s ability to leverage the AT&T network vastly expands the number of operators around the world that Loon can work with without having to complete time-intensive network integration for each one.’
Westgarth adds that in the last few months, Loon has secured approvals to fly over additional countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Malawi and Lesotho, bringing the total number of countries and regions it has approval to fly over to more than 50.