SYSTEMS: Orbiting satellites and ground cables provide much of the earth's internet connectivity - but there's still room in other places to provide bandwidth to hungry users. Step forward Google with its Project Loon programme to put transmitting balloons 12 miles above the earth. Read the full story on BBC News.
Google is launching balloons into near space to provide internet access to buildings below on the ground.
About 30 of the super-pressure balloons are being launched from New Zealand from where they will drift around the world on a controlled path.
Attached equipment will offer 3G-like speeds to 50 testers in the country.
Access will be intermittent, but in time the firm hopes to build a big enough fleet to offer reliable links to people living in remote areas.
Read the full story on BBC News