Social networking giant Facebook recently reported that its project to transmit almost 20Gbps of data between two towers is a success. The project was tested in Southern California, and Facebook said that it is integral to its plan of delivering internet service to rural areas with the use of drones.

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Facebook has been testing out this new technology since early this year. The goal is to achieve high-speed data transmission by using the so-called E-band frequencies, which is a group of millimeter wave frequencies between 60GHz and 90GHz, according to PC World.

These E-band frequencies are capable of transmitting high-bandwidth of data; however, these are also known for their susceptibility to obstacles and weather and can only be transmitted to a limited distance. E-band frequencies are usually used for point-to-point and short-range data transmissions.

To be able to achieve this remarkable feat, Facebook used a 60-centimeter dish and transmitted data over a 13-kilometer link between Woodland Hills and Malibu, according to Digital Trends. Facebook started out transmitting around 100Mbps and 3Gbps of data. This allowed Facebook engineers to transmit and collect data even with the presence of fog, clouds, high winds, and rain.

The receiving end of Facebook's data transmission test is a 1.2-meter dish. Facebook said that accuracy played a crucial role in the test since data transmission speed will drop by 50 percent if the two towers are misaligned even by just 0.2 degrees.

The new data transmission technology will be applied to Facebook's Aquila drone project, which aims to deliver internet access to remote areas from altitudes of 60,000 to 90,000 feet. The company added that its next step is to improve data transmission by up to 40Gbps.

TagsFacebook, Data Transmission, 20Gbps, data transmission record, facebook record, Facebook millimeter wave broadband