The tethered, lighter-than-air balloon will provide up to 100,000 people in the southeastern African country with a high-speed connection.
Blockchain-powered telecommunications firm World Mobile will use a tethered, lighter-than-air balloon, known as an aerostat, to deliver internet and other mobile services in Mozambique. The pilot project is being implemented in partnership with Vodacom Mozambique.
The project began in November, but the first call using the technology was placed on Dec. 19. The aerostat is positioned 300 meters (984 feet) off the ground and contains telecom equipment capable of connecting 100,000 users, according to an announcement.
The World Mobile aerostat, which was provided by a third party, was described as the world’s first commercial aerostat. It is unpowered and provides connectivity at a rate comparable to a high-speed fiber optics connection.
