A group of UK companies – led by telecoms developer Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL) – have concluded their flight trials for 5G infrastructure in the sky aboard a Britten-Norman Islander.
The tests, which were announced in November 2023, now prove that an advanced airborne 5G connectivity system has been successfully integrated into the aircraft.
SPL is at the forefront of developing airborne antennas to deliver high-performance 5G coverage. The technology has a number of valuable applications, including restoring networks after major disasters where a traditional mobile network has been disrupted.
The next phase of the project involves demonstrating the technology via a connection to a private UK-based national 5G telecommunications network.
Richard Deakin, CEO at Stratospheric Platforms Limited, said: “Our commitment to delivering high-altitude, zero-carbon, long-endurance communication platforms will revolutionise how the world stays connected, especially in remote and underserved regions. We believe that our cutting-edge technology will provide unprecedented opportunities for global communication and create a more connected and inclusive world.”
Dr Garnet Ridgway, Head of Flight Dynamics at Britten-Norman, remarked: “The large and complex nature of the system places significant demands on the host aircraft. However, the BN2T-4S performed admirably; the combination of payload capacity, endurance, climb performance, twin-engine reliability, robustness and electrical power generation makes it unbeatable for this mission.”
Photo: Britten-Norman
