Google has acquired Titan Aerospace, a solar-powered drones manufacturer based in New Mexico, US, for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition will allow the internet search giant to expand web access to isolated parts of the world.
The acquired entity will continue to operate from New Mexico and all of its 20 employees will join Google.
In a statement, Google said: "It’s still early days, but atmospheric satellites could help bring internet access to millions of people, and help solve other problems, including disaster relief and environmental damage like deforestation."
Established in 2012, Titan Aerospace is currently developing jet-sized drones, which Google plans to use to gather images and offer online access to remote areas.
Featuring 165ft wingspan, the atmospheric satellites can fly at an altitude of 65,000ft for up to five years, and are claimed to help offer data speeds of up to one gigabit a second.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe company expects to begin initial commercial operations of the drones in 2015.
Google was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying that Titan would work with its Project Loon, which aims to connect people in rural and remote areas who have no internet access through a global network of high-altitude balloons.
The aerospace firm may also work with Google’s Makani project, which is currently developing an airborne wind turbine for generation of electricity.
