An experimental aircraft could potentially help provide internet access to rural areas or disaster zones in the future. Approximately one-third of the global population, around 3 billion people, lack internet access or have unreliable connections due to infrastructure challenges, economic disparities, and geographic isolation.

Current satellite and ground-based networks often leave gaps in communication, particularly in regions where installing traditional ground-based equipment would be prohibitively expensive due to geographic constraints.

Figure 1. Airborne stations could provide high-power 5G internet.

High-altitude platform stations (HAPS) – telecommunications equipment deployed on uncrewed balloons, airships, gliders, and airplanes at high altitudes – have the potential to bridge these connectivity gaps left by ground and satellite coverage. [1] By enhancing internet access, these airborne stations could promote greater social and economic equality, enabling more people to fully engage in the digital era. Figure 1 shows Airborne stations could provide high-power 5G internet.

One of us, Mohamed-Slim Alouini, is an electrical engineer who contributed to an experiment demonstrating the feasibility of providing high data rates and widespread 5G coverage from the stratosphere. The stratosphere, the second-lowest layer of the atmosphere, is situated 4 to 30 miles above the Earth, where commercial planes typically fly in its lower region. The experiment assessed signals between platform stations and ground users in three scenarios: a stationary person, a person driving a car, and a person on a boat.

My colleagues evaluated signal strength in relation to interference and background noise levels—key indicators of network reliability. The findings revealed that platform stations could support high-data-rate applications, such as streaming 4K videos, and cover an area 15 to 20 times larger than that of standard terrestrial towers.

Although early efforts by Facebook and Google to deploy platform stations commercially were unsuccessful, recent investments, technological advancements, and interest from both traditional aviation companies and specialized aerospace startups could change the landscape.The ultimate goal is achieving global connectivity, a vision that earned the platform station concept recognition in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Top 10 Emerging Technologies report. The HAPS Alliance, an international industry initiative with academic partners, is also working toward this objective.

Quick, Affordable, Adaptable

Platform stations would be faster, more cost-effective, and more adaptable than satellite-based systems. Positioned closer to Earth than satellites, these stations could provide stronger, higher-capacity signals. This proximity allows for real-time communications that are fast enough to connect with standard smartphones, deliver high-resolution capabilities for imaging tasks, and offer greater sensitivity for sensing applications. They utilize free-space optics (light beams) and large-scale antenna arrays to transmit large volumes of data quickly.

Unlike satellites, which are susceptible to eavesdropping or jamming when passing over adversarial territories, platform stations remain within the airspace of a single country, reducing such risks.Deploying high-altitude platform stations is also simpler and less expensive than launching and maintaining satellites. The regulatory requirements and compliance procedures for securing positions in the stratosphere are likely less complex than the international laws governing satellite orbits. Additionally, platform stations are easier to upgrade, allowing for quicker implementation of technological improvements.

Platform stations also have the potential to be more environmentally friendly than satellite mega-constellations. Satellites that burn up upon reentry can release harmful metals into the atmosphere, whereas platform stations can be powered by clean energy sources, such as solar power and green hydrogen.

The main challenges to making platform stations practical include extending their flight duration to several months, enhancing green onboard power solutions, and improving reliability, particularly during automated takeoff and landing through the turbulent lower layers of the atmosphere.

Beyond Satellite Technology

Platform stations could be vital in emergency and humanitarian situations, providing crucial support when ground-based networks are damaged or unavailable.They could also connect Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors in remote areas, enhancing environmental monitoring and resource management.

In agriculture, these stations could employ imaging and sensing technologies to help farmers monitor crop health, soil conditions, and water resources more effectively.Their high-resolution imaging capabilities could also support navigation, mapping, and essential activities in cartography, urban planning, and disaster response.Additionally, platform stations could serve dual purposes by carrying instruments for atmospheric monitoring, climate research, and remote sensing of Earth's surface features, vegetation, and oceans.

From Balloons to Aircraft

Platform stations could be deployed using various types of aircraft.

Balloons provide stable, long-duration operation at high altitudes and can either be tethered or free-floating. Airships, or dirigibles and blimps, utilize lighter-than-air gases, making them larger and more maneuverable than balloons. They are particularly suited for surveillance, communications, and research purposes.

Gliders and powered aircraft offer more precise control compared to balloons, which are affected by wind variations. Powered aircraft, including drones and fixed-wing airplanes, can also supply electricity to communication equipment, sensors, and cameras.

Future-Ready Power

Platform stations could utilize a variety of power sources, including increasingly lightweight and efficient solar cells, high-energy-density batteries, and green hydrogen technologies. These may include internal combustion engines and fuel cells powered by green hydrogen, which are currently in the testing phase. Eventually, laser beam powering from ground or space-based solar stations could be an option.

Advancements in lightweight aircraft design, combined with improvements in high-efficiency motors and propellers, enable longer flight durations and the ability to carry heavier payloads. These innovations could lead to platform stations capable of extended operations in the stratosphere.

Additionally, enhanced stratospheric and atmospheric weather models are improving our ability to predict and simulate the conditions under which these platform stations would operate.

Closing the Global Digital Divide

The commercial deployment of platform stations, especially for post-disaster or emergency scenarios, could be realized by the end of the decade. For example, a consortium in Japan—a nation with remote mountainous and island communities—has allocated $100 million for developing solar-powered, high-altitude platform stations.

These platform stations have the potential to bridge the digital divide by enhancing access to essential services like education and healthcare, creating new economic opportunities, and improving emergency response and environmental monitoring. [2] As technological advancements drive their development; platform stations are poised to play a vital role in fostering a more inclusive and resilient digital future.

References:

1. https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/a-third-of-the-world-lacks-internet-access-airborne-communications-stations
2. https://greekreporter.com/2024/08/28/airborne-stations-internet-world-population-third/

Cite this article:

Janani R (2024), One-Third of the World Lacks Internet Access: Airborne Communication Stations Could Provide a Solution, AnaTechmaz, pp. 129