Facebook tests internet connectivity using lasers

Facebook's Internet.org initiative has announced that it is testing a method for delivering the Internet via lasers to help connect people around the world.

According to thenextweb.com, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, says that the connections will dramatically increase the speed of sending data over long distances.

Zuckerberg in his post did not explain how the program would work.

Connectivity Lab, in announcing its drone program, said it is hard at work on building drones.

Facebook also released a whitepaper outlining a plan to use Free Space Optics to distribute a concentrated laser beam to aid in connectivity.

Facebook wrote the lasers used in FSO (Free Space Optics) systems provide extremely high bandwidths and capacity on par with terrestrial fiber optic networks, but also pointed out that the lasers need to be correctly calibrated and require line of sight between both ends of the laser link, meaning that they do not work through clouds and are very susceptible to bad weather conditions.