Facebook buying drone manufacturer for US$60m: reports

Facebook is in talks to purchase drone manufacturer Titan Aerospace, according to recent news reports.

Citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, technology website TechCrunch reported earlier this week that Facebook will buy Titan Aerospace for US$60 million.

Titan Aerospace makes near-orbital, solar-powered drones that can purportedly fly for five years without needing to land.

Facebook is a part of the Internet.org initiative, a partnership between several technology companies that aims to provide internet access to "the two thirds of the world's population that doesn't have it", according to the group's website.

TechCrunch said Facebook wants to use drones from the Titan Aerospace purchase to bring internet access to parts of the world so far uncovered, starting with Africa.

In fact, post-acquisition, Titan Aerospace's production would be devoted solely to the Internet.org project, the tech website reported.

The big question is what Facebook's end goal is here. While there may be an altruistic element to the Internet.org project, TechCrunch's writers suggested that: "When it comes to business, Facebook is playing the long game. It hopes that with time, everyone in the world will gain affordable access to the Internet and smartphones, which could help them join the knowledge economy and gain more buying power."

Armed with more buying power, users in those parts of the world previously without internet access would then become a more desirable target for advertisers, therefore potentially allowing Facebook to make more money from ads targeted at them.

Image courtesy of Facebook.