<P> The balloons use patch antennas--which are directional antennas--to transmit signals to ground stations or LTE users . Some smartphones with Google SIM cards can use Google Internet services . The whole infrastructure is based on LTE; the eNodeB component (the equivalent of the "base station" that talks directly to handsets) is carried in the balloon . </P> <P> In 2008, Google considered contracting with or acquiring Space Data Corp., a company that sends balloons carrying small base stations about 20 mi (32 km) up in the air for providing connectivity to truckers and oil companies in the southern United States, but didn't do so . </P> <P> Unofficial development on the project began in 2011 under incubation in Google X with a series of trial runs in California's Central Valley . The project was officially announced as a Google project on June 14, 2013 . </P> <P> On June 16, 2013, Google began a pilot experiment in New Zealand where about 30 balloons were launched in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority from the Tekapo area in the South Island . About 50 local users in and around Christchurch and the Canterbury Region tested connections to the aerial network using special antennas . After this initial trial, Google plans on sending up 300 balloons around the world at the 40th parallel south that would provide coverage to New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and Argentina . Google hopes to eventually have thousands of balloons flying in the stratosphere . </P>

Which company started project loon to give balloon powered internet access to the world