Alphabet Ends Loon Balloon Internet Project Over Costs
Alphabet is shutting down Loon, its experimental balloon-based internet venture, because it fails to achieve a sustainable business model. The closure comes alongside news of a redesigned MacBook Air and Google's search threat in Australia.
Alphabet officially shuts down Loon, the ambitious project that uses high-altitude balloons to deliver internet access to remote areas. Originally born in the X experimental lab and later spun out in 2018, the company ultimately fails to establish a financially viable path forward.
Loon CEO Alastair Westgarth explains that despite successful technical deployments and willing partners, the team cannot reduce costs enough to build a long-term, sustainable business. He acknowledges that developing radical new technology is inherently risky, making the difficult decision to close the project a reality of innovation.
This major closure headlines a busy day in technology that also includes Apple reportedly developing a thinner and lighter MacBook Air with MagSafe charging. Additionally, Google escalates its lobbying efforts by threatening to completely shut down its search engine in Australia over proposed digital news payment legislation.