Is this for real (it is not quite April agfter all...)
A glider pilot plans to provide high-speed Internet access using
solar-powered, high-altitude manned aircraft built to cruise at 51,000
feet.
US firm Angel Technologies plans to beam high-speed Internet service to
customers in large cities, who would receive it on small cone-shaped
antennas.
Pinning its hopes on what it views as a cheaper alternative for fast
Internet service than its primary competitor, the satellite industry, Angel
plans to test its network next year and provide commercial service in 2003
and has identified 200 cities worldwide as potential markets. In addition
to the expense of acquiring three planes for each metropolitan area,
Angel's plan involves using huge quantities of jet fuel, hiring two pilots
for each plane and making three take-offs and landings a day for each city
where its service is available.
"We believe the appetite for bandwidth will continue to grow as it did for
processing speed; that's why we're thinking so far outside the box," said
Mr Marc Arnold, Angel's 43-year-old founder.
The New York Times
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