Google's Internet project - named Project Loon - has been silent for a few months. After an interesting few updates to the balloon Internet project, the best part of 2014 has been radio silence from the team working on supplying Internet access.

A new update confirms Google is still in the game to get Internet access to the 2.5 billion people on Earth who don't have it, in a continued effort to make Project Loon a more viable alternative to traditional cable and fiber lines.

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In the past few months, Google has worked on new autofill equipment to launch up to 20 balloons per day into the stratosphere. The new autofill allows Google to fill a balloon in less than 5 minutes.

The balloons also stay in the air a lot longer now. The Project Loon team claims they last ten times as long as they did in 2013 - the record time set at 130 days. This could mean the balloon would stay in the air for over two years, a big upgrade on 2013 predictions.

Engineers are currently trying to make precise estimates when it comes to moving the balloons to areas. In a 9000km path, Google managed to be off by just 1.5km, showing excellent progress over 2013's flight paths.

There is still work to be done on Project Loon's internals, making the balloons offer faster and more stable Internet speeds. Google also needs to make sure the balloons don't just land in a random spot.

Google is not the only company looking to provide Internet to the next 2.5 billion people. Facebook has shown interest in drone technology that can send Internet access, Elon Musk has also acquired 700 small satellites to offer Internet access to Africa and parts of Asia and South America.

TagsProject Loon, Internet balloon, Internet access, Africa