SoftBank has gained unique rights to make use of Sceye’s HAPS platform in Japan
In sum – what to know:
SoftBank to launch HAPS in 2026 – The Japanese service will start pre-commercial stratospheric telecom companies subsequent yr, utilizing U.S.-based Sceye’s lighter-than-air platform to enhance catastrophe restoration and rural connectivity.
Constructing a 3D community for 6G – The undertaking helps future drone communication and sky-based mobility, forming a part of SoftBank’s bigger objective of making a 3D next-gen community for the 6G period.
Satellite tv for pc various with sooner response – HAPS will be deployed faster than satellites, making them preferrred for emergencies and distant areas the place conventional infrastructure struggles.
Japanese operator SoftBank introduced that it expects to launch pre-commercial stratospheric telecommunications companies in Japan subsequent yr utilizing Excessive Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS).
In a launch, the Japanese firm additionally revealed it has made an fairness funding in Sceye, a U.S.-based aerospace firm that develops lighter-than-air (LTA) HAPS automobiles.
Below the phrases of this partnership, SoftBank positive aspects unique rights to make use of Sceye’s HAPS platform in Japan. The transfer is a part of SoftBank’s long-term plan to construct a next-generation 3D community that may help companies like drone connectivity, catastrophe restoration and future 6G purposes.
HAPS platforms function round 20 km above Earth within the stratosphere and might present wide-area wi-fi protection. Not like satellites, HAPS will be deployed shortly and provide sooner speeds, decrease latency and extra versatile protection, making them helpful in emergencies and distant places reminiscent of mountains or islands, the telco mentioned.
SoftBank sees HAPS as a key constructing block of future networks, particularly for sky-based mobility and uncrewed aerial automobiles (UAVs). The Japanese service has been investing in HAPS since 2017, specializing in heavier-than-air (HTA) platforms. Now, with the addition of Sceye’s LTA platform, it’s accelerating its push towards real-world industrial deployments.
Junichi Miyakawa, president and CEO of SoftBank, mentioned: “The stratospheric-based, huge space telecommunications of HAPS will play a key position in increasing community space protection to areas which might be tough to achieve with current cell community infrastructure, and it’ll additionally present a way of restoring communications when large-scale disasters strike. Moreover, as we transfer towards the 6G period, HAPS shall be key infrastructure to help society when 3D telecommunications networks shall be wanted to help sky-based mobility.”
Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, founder and CEO of Sceye, added that the funding from SoftBank “reinforces the viability of [its] HAPS platform.”
This undertaking is a part of SoftBank’s bigger objective of “Ubiquitous Transformation (UTX)”, which goals to create a seamless community by combining satellites, HAPS and ground-based cell techniques right into a single ecosystem.
In 2020, the Japanese firm performed its first profitable stratospheric flight. In 2023, it grew to become the primary firm to check 5G connectivity from the stratosphere utilizing a UAV outfitted with its personal payload. It continues to develop applied sciences for next-gen HAPS platforms, together with photo voltaic modules, batteries and motors, working intently with its companions.
In February, SoftBank and OpenAI had agreed to develop and market AI techniques for enterprises in an providing dubbed Cristal intelligence. The AI providing, which the 2 corporations mentioned will securely combine custom-made techniques with the enterprises’ information, shall be marketed by a brand new three way partnership the pair established named SB OpenAI Japan.
