In an earlier blog post, we explored Google and Facebook’s race for global connectivity, bringing Internet to two-thirds of the world’s population who are still without. So how are both tech giants fairing in their quest? Naturally we were interested to find out…

Back in March, Facebook launched its Connectivity Lab and partnership with Internet.org. With this, the company hoped to expand its Internet reach to areas across the globe not yet connected. Soon after, rumours abounded that Facebook was to acquire drone company Titan Aerospace, as drones would likely be needed to beam down Internet to remote locations. However, it was Google in the end who secured a deal with Titan Aerospace, allegedly exceeding Facebook’s offer for the company. This meant that Facebook instead acquired UK-based Ascenta, a company specialising in solar-powered UAV aircrafts. Interestingly, these vehicles are able to fly at a higher altitude than drones, potentially making them more secure and safe from airspace or unruly weather fronts. Partnering with Ascenta, the social media platform hoped to test both satellites and drones, the former which would be used to connect rural areas, while the latter could be used for suburban regions.

Aside from drones, Google was also reportedly in the midst of its Project Loon initiative-this saw the company test how specially-designed balloons could be used to beam Internet to remote areas across the globe. But if Project Loon is in the pipeline, speculation abounds as to why Google possibly require Titan Aerospace’s technology too? We stated previously that it was Titan’s robots that would be able to be put to good use, collecting data in the form of high-resolution images, possibly identifying areas where Internet coverage would be needed. But it also seems that if Google are to use drones in conjunction with its Project Loon balloons, the combination would make for a powerful network of machines designed to last up to 3 years, and provide over 1000 square miles of coverage.

So where are they now? Facebook announced at a recent summit in New York, that it will begin testing its drones by 2015 in 21 countries including the US and India, while Ascenta’s team have already worked on early versions of Zephyr, the longest unmanned solar-powered aircraft. Google’s Project Loon has been in the testing stages since 2011, showing that while there’s been work to do, it is certainly a project worth sticking by. And now Google X Lab, the secret operations lab, has revealed it will be supplying global Internet access within a year of launching Project Loon’s balloons.  It will be interesting to see which method proves most successful and who will be the first to capitalize on their initiative. And just one final question remains- will it be Facebook drones or Google Balloons that prove most popular with Internet users?

Have you been following Google and Facebook’s progression towards global connectivity? Who do you think stands to triumph with their project? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please tweet to us @PracticeDigital, and share your comments on our Facebook page.