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In 2013, Google ran its first tests for Project Loon, an ambitious effort to circulate broadband-emitting balloons across the globe. On Thursday, the company said that’s not necessary anymore.

Executives at the project said they have found ways to run the program with fewer balloons. Rather than building a worldwide network, the team will now launch a small number of balloons into particular regions that need internet access. That will accelerate the project’s path toward becoming an actual commercial operation, the Loon team said. The announcement is consistent with moves across Google parent Alphabet Inc. to curb costs at its riskier, expensive projects.

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“We can now run an experiment with 10 or 20 or 30 balloons,” said Astro Teller, the head of X, the Alphabet division that houses Project Loon. “The service has a much better chance of ultimately being profitable.”

Teller said the team will be testing with telecommunications providers “in the coming months.”