Facebook Predicts Future Internet Powered by Drones and Lasers

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is envisioning a future where the Internet will be powered by "drones, satellites, and lasers."

The billionaire announced in a blog post Thursday the creation of Facebook Connectivity Lab, a company division working with Internet.org to bring connectivity to those currently without access.

"In our effort to connect the whole world with Internet.org, we've been working on ways to beam Internet to people from the sky," Zuckerberg said. "Our goal with Internet.org is to make affordable access to basic Internet services available to every person in the world."

Internet.org is an effort launched last year by Facebook and other groups to increase Internet accessibility around the globe. The site released two videos alongside Zuckerberg's announcement. One simulates what a solar-powered drone capable of providing Internet might look like. Another features a Facebook employeediscussing the company's Connectivity Lab.

Facebook has been busy shelling out billions to buy other technology companies recently. Earlier this week the social-media giant bought Oculus VR, a virtual-reality headset maker, for $2 billion. Last month, it announced a purchase of mobile chat client WhatsApp for an eye-popping $19 billion.

This is the second time in the last month Zuckerberg has taken to his Facebook page to announce attention-grabbing news. He previously used the venue to express his frustration over revelations about the government's Internet surveillance programs, which led to a summit with President Obama last week that he and other executives of big tech firms attended.