Facebook will reportedly use satellites, drones and other technology as part of its costly effort to make Internet connectivity available to people in underdeveloped parts of the world, according to Reuters.
The No. 1 social network in the world confirmed on March 27 that it has hired aerospace and communications specialists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and its Ames Research Center for the "Connectivity Lab" venture.
"Today, we're sharing some details of the work Facebook's Connectivity Lab is doing to build drones, satellites and lasers to deliver the internet to everyone," Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said in on Facebook.
A time frame has not been specified by the company yet.
The venture continues Facebook's quest Internet.org project, designed to connect the world, especially to those who don't have Internet access in places like Asia and Africa.
Facebook has worked with telecommunications carriers over the last couple of years to try making Internet access more affordable and readily available.
"We're going to continue building these partnerships, but connecting the whole world will require inventing new technology too," Zuckerberg added in his post.
Facebook foresees a fleet of drones, along with low-earth orbit and geosynchronous satellites, delivering Internet access to locations all over the world.
Infrared laser beams would allow the company to increase the speed of the Internet connections provided by aircrafts, Facebook said this week.
The social network company plans to take to the skies underscores the company's ambitions to "set the pace for new technology that will shape society," according to Reuters.
Earlier this week, Facebook revealed it would purchase Oculus VR Inc, a maker of virtual reality goggles that Facebook hopes could become an important platform sometime in the near future.
Facebook rival Google announced plans in 2013 to use solar-powered balloons to provide Internet access to remote regions around the world.
Facebook has also hired a five people that worked at Ascenta, a company whose founders created early versions of the Zephyr.
The Zephyr held the record for the longest-flying solar-powered unmanned aircraft, according to Reuters.
Shares of Facebook were up 28 cents at $61.25 in after-hours trading on March 27.
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