India among countries interested in balloon project : Google’s Todd Rowe

India is among the countries to have evinced an interest in Google's balloon project, which was expected to ensure internet access to areas not covered by the global network, according to a Google official.

"A number of countries, including India, have expressed interest in implementing the project," Todd Rowe, managing director of global channel sales at Google, told reporters.

He added, the company was working on a pilot project in New Zealand and depending on the results of the project; the company would be able to implement it in other countries.

He added there was no time-frame to implement 'Project Loon' in India. The internet search giant recently launched internet-enabled balloons into the stratosphere over New Zealand to provide rural areas with broadband connectivity.

The helium-filled balloons, that Google would launch, would float 20 km above earth. They would carry internet signal antennas that would provide connectivity, acting as a hub for users. The balloons would be carried around by winds and would be able to be steered by raising or lowering them to a particular altitude. The balloons would be under the control of a special Loon Mission Control station in New Zealand.

Project loon is aimed at improving internet connectivity and providing network access in remote areas, to enable just about everyone to get online (See: Google reveals plan to beam internet from balloons in stratosphere).

According to Rowe, though the project was still in the pilot phase, Google had received several queries on the project and India had also shown great interest in the project.

Project Loon would go a long way in extending internet to far flung and remote areas and at a low cost, to boot. The balloons floating approximately 20 kms above the earth would be fitted with solar panels for harnessing solar energy.