Loon
TelecommunicationsCalifornia, United States11-50 Employees
Loon began in 2011 as a project within Google X, later known as X the Moonshot Factory, with the goal of widening internet access in regions where coverage is limited. It pursued a network of stratospheric balloons to deliver connectivity to hard-to-reach communities around the world. The initiative drew on advances across multiple disciplines, including engineering, software, artificial intelligence, communications, and meteorology. In 2021, the project came to an end, after its balloons had traveled more than 40 million kilometers and connected hundreds of thousands of people. Based in Mountain View, California, Loon operated within the telecommunications sector as a small-to-mid-sized team focused on expanding connectivity where traditional networks are limited. Its work targeted areas lacking reliable internet access, aiming to close gaps in global connectivity.