Facebook Working On Unmanned Aircraft That Can Beam Internet Access From Sky [Update]

Facebook has been secretly working on unmanned aircraft that can beam Internet access from sky, CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed in a Facebook post.

"Aircraft like these will help connect the whole world because they can affordably serve the 10 percent of the world's population that live in remote communities without existing internet infrastructure," Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page today.

He noted that more details will be shared about the initiative a keynote address this afternoon at Facebook's F8 developer conference.

The unmanned aircraft has already gone on a test flight in United Kingdom, Zuckerberg shared. It's expected the final design will produce an airplane with the wingspan of a Boeing 737 but lighter than a car, according to ABC News.

The plane runs on solar power and is capable to fly at altitudes of more than 60,000 feet for months at a time.

Update

During a keynote at its annual F8 Developer Conference in San Francisco, the company shared photos of the prototype.

According to Facebook's chief technology officer, Mike Schroepfer, the final design of Facebook's V-shaped drone prototype will have a wingspan greater than a Boeing 737 and the mass greater than a small car, meaning it is big but also light.

"It will be powered by solar panels on its wings and it will be able to stay at altitudes of more than 60,000 feet for months at a time," Zuckerberg added. "Aircraft like these will help connect the whole world because they can affordably serve the 10% of the world's population that live in remote communities without existing internet infrastructure."