Wireless communication employing high altitude long endurance aeronautical platforms

Abstract

This article presents a possible alternative solution for wireless service providers. Wireless communication is currently the fastest developing branch in telecommunications. The number of wireless, especially mobile, subscribers is increasing at a much faster rate than the number of wire subscribers. Today, wireless communication is divided into terrestrial and satellite communications, both of which bring with it certain benefits and drawbacks. The described high altitude long endurance aeronautical platforms present an intriguing alternative. From the telecommunications perspective, they combine the advantages of both the terrestrial and satellite counterparts. When the HALE reaches the stage of operating in a stable fashion, becoming economically acceptable, reliable and safe, they will offer a new mode of providing telecommunication services.