Google installing hundreds of internet-enabled balloons in Indonesia

Working with three local internet providers, Google is trying to expand in Indonesia by installing helium-filled balloons in the stratosphere

How do you connect a country made up of 17,000 islands to the internet? That's the huge infrastructure challenge faced by Indonesia, and one that Google hopes to address using its high altitude 'Project Loon' balloons.

The Silicon Valley giant has partnered with three Indonesian internet service providers - Telkomsel, Axiata and Inmost - to deliver LTE connectivity to remote areas via clusters of giant helium balloons to places where fixed-line service aren't available. It's part of the the company's plan to help connect some of the billions of people around the world who remain offline.