Alphabet, parent company of google,has signed a deal with an Indian state to offer internet connectivity that it describes as "fibre optic cable,but with out cable." The company hopes that Free Space Optical Communication(FSOC) technology will form the spine of high-bandwidth internet in south east India
Working with AP state Fibernet, a telecom company owned entirely by Andhra Pradesh government (India). X (formerly called as google X) will build two thousand FSOC links which use beams of light to deliver fast and reliable connectivity over long distances.
"FSOC boxes can simply be placed kilometres apart on roofs or towers with signal beamed directly between the boxes to easily traverse common obstacles like rivers,roads & railways."
Alphabet developed this technology while working on project loon, a mission that hopes to spread internet access through balloons.Initially FSOC technology was being used to allow the balloons to communicate with each other. After successfully transferring a copy of the 1985 comedy Real genius over 100 kilometres between the balloons using FSOC lasers, X started to wonder if technology could be applied more territially.