High Altitude Platforms as a cost-effective alternative to current and proposed satellite ecosystems, to deliver bandwidth and mobile backhaul to underserved areas of the world.

摘要

As of today, more than half the world's population, an estimated 4 billion, is not able to access internet or mobile services networks. Companies like SpaceX and OneWeb are committing billions of US dollars to collectively launch a combined constellation of over 6000 smallsats over the coming years, in hopes of delivering such services to the entire world. And yet, despite the vast commitment of resources, and the promise of low latency, another alternative may end up being far easier and much cheaper to deploy, operate, and maintain, as well as being far more affordable to citizens in developing nations. High Altitude Platforms, in the form of stationary airships, or propeller-driven drone aircraft, could provide targeted solutions to underserved areas of the world, with far less construction, deployment, and maintenance costs than either the present GEO satellite ecosystem, or even proposed constellations of satellites at LEO. The author will explain the state of the art of HAPs today, and offer a deeper view into his company's own efforts to provide broadband and mobile backhaul services, from an "orbit" of only 20km.