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| Broadcast 5G to all parts of the world from the stratosphere |
Two British companies are developing drones with antennas that can transmit high-speed stratospheric (5G) communications to devices around the world.
Stratosphere Platforms Limited. Cambridge Consultants has announced its intention to launch a fleet of 65,617 feet above the ground with 480 steerable girder each to cover the network area.
The team said: Only 60 remote-controlled aircraft can cover the UK via 5G connections, but the goal is to deliver unconnected aircraft in developing countries.
The hydrogen-powered plane completed its first successful test in September. Although the aircraft is still in the proof-of-concept stage, the research team intends to put it into commercial service in 2024.
The aircraft weighs 120 kilograms, is 32 feet long, is hydrogen-powered, has a longer life and has zero emissions.
The secret is the unmanned antenna design, which can generate hundreds of beams for fast and even coverage of the entire area.
Richard Deakin, CEO of Stratospheric Platforms Limited, said: The UK's 4G networks launch is slow and costly and the move to 5G will require an additional 400,000 base stations.
Added: Limited Stratosphere Platform. It can replace no less than 200 towers depending on configuration.
Each antenna can generate 480 independent steerable beams, creating patterns that can be mapped onto the ground to cover specific areas such as roads, railways or freight trains.
"This unique antenna is at the heart of the Stratosphere Platform Ltd. communications system," Deakin said in a statement.
"It is imperative that we overcome the major engineering challenges of antenna design in order to be able to deliver massive data rates in one low-performance environment."
In September, Stratosphere Platform Co., Ltd. Duetsche Telekom performed its first air test using 4G for voice and data.
During testing, the smartphone was connected to the Duetsche Telekom terrestrial network via the aircraft's antenna.
Stratospheric testing showed a download speed of 70 Mbps and an upload speed of 20 Mbps.
Stratospheric Platforms Limited is trying to compete with Alphabet's Loon, which is using stratospheric balloons to bring the Internet to people in remote parts of the world.