Africa/internet access: the cloud above

Floating 12 miles above the earth, high above commercial aircraft, internet balloons offer the possibility of online connection for hundreds of millions of people living in emerging markets. Loon, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, has launched its first commercial project in Kenya. Success will lead more countries to seek a deal. Loon has already proved that its polyethylene, solar-powered helium balloons work by providing internet access to hurricane-hit Puerto Rico. Kenya is a test of whether the service can be profitable. Cheaper than digging cables, the balloons use algorithms to navigate air currents and stay in one place, beaming 4G internet signals down to remote areas. Offering internet access to emerging economies is a worthy, and potentially lucrative, goal. Poverty and low population density in emerging markets stymie online access while US tech giants that have saturated home markets are keen to sign up new customers. As well as services, access would provide more personal data — so long as governments refrain from implementing new privacy laws.