Advanced Television

Stratospheric wants £130m for 5G by drone

February 3, 2023

By Chris Forrester

Platforms Stratospheric(SPL), based in Cambridgeshire, UK, is working with Indonesian company PT Profesional Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Protelindo), the largest telecommunication infrastructure company in Indonesia, Protelindo which wants to use drones as flying platforms for 5G services.

Protolindo has taken a financial stake in Stratospheric.

SPL is looking to raise £130 million to help fund its progress.

SPL seeks to provide high bandwidth telecoms network coverage from the stratosphere using hydrogen-powered High Altitude Platforms (HAPS) delivered by unmanned aircraft. This strategic partnership and investment will enable SPL to explore with Protelindo development of a market-leading and innovative HAPS solution to address Indonesia’s challenging topography to deliver a world-class telecoms network.

SPL, founded in 2014, is also backed by Deutsche Telekom as a major investor. UK’s BT is already testing (and “partnering”) with SPL and its technology at BT’s global R&D headquarters at Adastral Park and with the aim of delivering 4G and 5G signals to remote areas. BT says the SPL technology could unlock connectivity for hard to reach areas in a more affordable and sustainable way.

Once developed, SPL’s HAP unmanned aircraft will have the ability to provide direct coverage to users over 15,000 km2 and connection speeds of up to 200 Mbps. SPL’s solution offers seamless integration with terrestrial networks and tower operators, full 5G compatibility and unparalleled connectivity across all climates, conditions and terrains. It is a cost-efficient solution that avoids large capital expenditure requirements and provides a revolutionary, agile, and green infrastructure with “last mile connectivity” applications anytime, anywhere, says SPL.

“We are delighted to be working with the Protolindo team as we look forward to building on our recent 5G stratospheric demonstrations and move to our production standard hydrogen-powered aircraft and full-service roll-out,” said SPL CEO Richard Deakin.

“We believe SPL’s HAP aircraft can serve as a “tower in the sky” for areas with telecom coverage challenges,” emphasised Ferdinandus Aming Santoso, CEO of the Protolindo Grp. “This capability is relevant in both developed and emerging markets.”

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