Alphabet shutters solar-powered drone program

Google’s dream of delivering internet access to developing countries using solar-powered drones apparently got hit with a huge dose of reality. Alphabet confirmed it has disbanded a team tasked with exploring the use of these drones, which fly at a height of 12 miles. After encountering setbacks, the company decided to instead focus on delivering internet access from high-altitude balloons. Google purchased Titan Aerospace in 2014. Facebook also reportedly had been interested in buying the U.S. maker of aerial drones. Titan later became part of X, Alphabet’s moonshot lab, in late 2015. After Google purchased Titan, it faced a setback when a Titan Solara 50 crashed during a 2015 test flight in New Mexico. Alphabet’s closure of the Titan program highlights some of the recent challenges tech firms face as they try to deliver internet to developing countries.