Airborne antenna developed to beam 5G from the stratosphere
Cambridge Consultants and Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL) have partnered to develop an airborne antenna that will provide widescale 5G coverage at a fraction of the cost of current terrestrial networks.
Based in Cambridge, UK, SPL is a start-up developing a High-Altitude Platform (HAP) and communication system operating in the stratosphere to enable fast, affordable connectivity in unserved areas.
According to project partner Cambridge Consultants, a single HAP could provide coverage over an area up to 140km in diameter, equivalent to deploying hundreds of today’s terrestrial masts, meaning a fleet of around 60 HAPs could blanket the whole of the United Kingdom in connectivity with peak 5G speeds in excess of 100 Gbps ‘in aggregate’.
With cheaper costs, the new platform aims to fill gaps in coverage across the developed world and to ensure rural areas are not left behind.
The culmination of a four-year project between the two companies, the wireless antenna promises to deliver affordable connectivity from a fleet of aircraft at an altitude of 20,000m, with minimal environmental impact due to its zero-emission hydrogen power system. With the proof of concept now complete, the ultimate antenna is planned to measure at three meters square weighing 120kg.
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