The team said that the portable autolaunchers "allow us to move our whole operation to places that give us access to favorable wind patterns that can help us provide internet connectivity around the world." They also keep the balloons out of stiff breezes until the moment of launch, providing greater control. The balloons can now communicate with each other in the air, so the Project Loon team just needs eight ground stations and a network of balloons to provide full wireless coverage to a region. The system is expected to be deployed some time this year in regions of Latin America, West Africa and Asia.