(Bloomberg) – AT&T Inc. has deployed a drone to act as a "cell tower in the sky" to help provide communication services in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, the first time the technology has been used to reconnect residents after a disaster, the company said.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced its approval Friday for the use of the vehicle, which resembles a small helicopter.

The "Flying COW," which stands for "Cell on Wings," hovers 200 feet above the ground to provide wireless service to people within a 40-mile area. It's connected to the ground with cables for power and telecommunication signals.

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