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STRATEGY OF PROJECT LOON’S NET GAINS

A thought struck me after reading through the title which was what does this term means. After having a couple of thoughts, I thought it to be a project related to some solar space mission which would make a country new superpower. Ironically, I realized it was not a space mission project but a basic thought which could bring smile to millions of people after they avail the services of the project. Having read the entire piece of article, my expectations were dawned by the idea of a new disruptive space which would make way to the poorest of the poor. It was the opposite of my expectations and guesses. Project loon is a project by Google which would provide last mile connectivity through free internet service. In Sri Lanka, only 3 million people are connected to the internet out of the total population of approximately 22 million.
Google’s mission is to make the access of the internet universal and global. To achieve it, Google has teamed and tied up with the Sri Lankan government to deliver broadband connectivity to each region of the island, making it first country in the world to have access to internet universally. The initiative is part of Google’s Project Loon, which aims to provide cheap or free internet connectivity to people in remote and rural areas around the world via a fleet of helium-filled balloons floating way up in the stratosphere.

As far as I understood looking through the lens of serving the poor and bridging the gap between have and have not’s. But, it turns out to be a completely different business model after having analyzed the write up on the topic. Companies like Google want to tap the maximum market connectivity first so that they can monetize it afterwards. In India, Project Loon will take a lot of time to take shape. This is what new Google CEO Sunder Pichai stated when he announced that Google in collaboration with the Indian Railways will be providing high-speed Wi-Fi internet connectivity at close to 400 ‘high footfall’ railway stations across India initially for free but then gradually making it a self-sustainable model.

Project Railway appears to be the very first concrete step of Google which will be taking in India, to connect the next billion through online channel. Recently a survey reported that only 25 crore out of 125 crore Indians are connected to the internet, leaving gap of 1 billion Indians.

The initiative by Google to connect the “next billion Indians” will make sure that it catches hold of a firm grip over the last mile connectivity. After this mission is achieved, it might announce some plans to monetize it, as it did in the past with its search engine initiative.

Similarly Facebook is coming up with Free Basics and trying to provide access to free internet. I firmly believed in the power of internet and the way these big blue-chip companies wanted to take it a long way. After few discussions and write ups, I arrived at a very daunting conclusion which would shake my belief in these companies. It struck me that just like a bait is vital to grab hold of prey, similarly free internet is a bait to us –the very common people as we might get used to this and they shall then exploit us the way which might be hurtful. Net neutrality is not being served, which is the whole purpose behind it and is being played upon. Providing free content and having controlled access would deprive a certain class of people who are paying for the services. Having said so, I draw upon a cloudy conclusion that the Ministers in charge should eradicate the internet access problem and come up with a new, innovative model in interest with those of the internet companies.

I learned to read between the lines. Also, how these big notch firms might fool us in the long run and so policymakers have to be cautious about it from the starting line itself. Making the right move at right time at the right place just like a knight would help us win the game.

DHRUV DUGGAL

What Is Google's Strategy By Launching Project Loon