Flying telephone base stations will launch over Japan in 2026. • Register

In about two years, a number of telecommunications ground base stations should appear over Japan, thanks to Airbus subsidiary AALTO and a consortium led by Japanese mobile operator NTT Docomo.

The consortium – which includes Space Compass, Mizuho Bank and Development Bank of Japan – all led by NTT Docomo – will invest $100 million in AALTO through the HAPS JAPAN investment vehicle.

AALTO produces the Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), a solar-powered fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate in the stratosphere, where it provides mobile communications and Earth observation services.

“This investment marks the beginning of a strategic alliance to commercialize communications and Earth observation services using HAPS in Japan and throughout Asia,” explains the press release.

Despite the large investment, stakeholders clarified that “Airbus Defense and Space will remain the majority shareholder of AALTO” and that the investment is subject to regulatory approval.

According to AALTO, the cash injection will enable it to expand the reach of mobile network operators, reduce network coverage gaps and support Japan’s response to natural disasters.

One of Space Compass’s two co-CEOs, Shigoehiro Hori, argued that extraterrestrial networks could solve connectivity problems in hard-to-reach areas, of which Japan has plenty due to its mountainous terrain.

Japan’s population decline is also a factor, as it is expected to hit rural areas hardest, which will continue to need services such as telemedicine, distance education and online businesses, as well as reliable emergency notification channels. . Without such connectivity, these populations may fall victim to the digital divide.

Space Compass’s co-CEO Koichiro Matsufuji added that the company aims to “create a successful use case in Japan and expand it to Asia.”

Space Compass, a joint venture between NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT, has already worked with AALTO and its Zephyr HAPS on flight demonstrations and the integration of the drone and satellites into a broader space ICT infrastructure, which NTT has called the “space integrated computer network.”

AALTO CEO Samer Halwawi explained that the $100 million investment coincides with the company’s next phase of growth – which will see the company launch several customer missions over the coming year while establishing Zephyr launch and landing sites and streamlining certification processes.

Commercial HAPS operators – including AALTO and Zephyr – need certificates from major civil aviation authorities to use facilities such as airports. This requires demonstration of airworthiness, safety protocols and compliance with aviation and communications regulations in force in each country in which it operates.

The technology has been in development for over 20 years and has improved over that time, from a flight endurance of around six hours at an altitude of 9,000 meters to the ability to stay at an altitude of 20,000 meters for 90 days. ®