Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg believes that drone technology is better than balloon-based projects like that of Google's Project Loon when it comes to aiming for global Internet coverage. He has made clear what he wants to accomplish and where he thinks the market is going. It was also clear for a while that Facebook would be acquiring Titan Aerospace, a maker of solar-powered, long-range drones. This would mean that Facebook instead of Google would be the one to connect the next million Internet users. However, there was a twist in the story as just yesterday it was reported that Google would be the one to buy Titan Aerospace and Facebook would only acquire a different drone maker called Ascenta. Why do these two companies seem to be so interested in drone technology?

Drone technology has already been used in military missions. These are unmanned vehicles controlled by computers onboard or an external operator on the ground. It now has a broad range of applications especially when it comes to the use of video cameras. The two companies, Facebook and Google, are looking into how this technology can be useful for them as a broader business strategy. For Facebook, drones could help them catch up. If they want to remain a major Internet force, they have to extend beyond being a social network and drones can help them do so.

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) could be a means to bypass mobile carriers. Through drone technology, Facebook could connect the next billion users via FB-owned drones, bypassing mobile carriers altogether.

On the other hand, Google already has the capability of acquiring geospatial data through the use of Nest technology, which provides the more robust picture of the planet that powers Google Maps. Facebook could actually have their own proprietary geospatial data when they have a fleet of cameras in the sky. Although the extent to which these two giants plan to use drone technology is still unclear, for now it is pretty obvious that the two companies are competing for a better technology portfolio.