High Altitude Platform Stations - 5 June 2005

American and European companies intend to deploy wireless networks with antennas placed in balloons or HAPS (High Altitude Platform Stations), powered by solar cells. US Globetel, in association with Sanswire Technologies, targets deploying such a solution, using balloons at the altitude of 20km. UK SkyLINC, a part of the European project called Capanina, has a similar target. First trial in past October allowed 120 Mbit/s transmission in the 38/41 G Hz band. First commercial service could take place in 2008.