Advanced Television

AALTO, Telkomsel commit to advance Indonesia’s Stratospace ecosystem

March 2, 2026

AALTO HAPS, an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and will deliver services using Zephyr, and PT Telekomuikasi Selular, Indonesia’s leading digital telecommunications company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Mobile World Congress Barcelona. The MoU establishes a pathway for AALTO and Telkomsel to build foundations required for Stratospace‑based services in Indonesia.

AALTO and Telkomsel have agreed a framework to co-operate across commercial, technical and regulatory domains with the aim to enable demonstrations flights in 2027 and full commercial entry-into-service from 2028 onwards.

Core activities between the Companies include:

  1. Jointly defining service requirements and roadmap aspirations: commercial models for B2C and B2B, coverage and availability targets.
  2. Defining and collaborating on technical integration topics: ground network architecture, end-to-end interoperability with existing equipment, antenna configurations and payload capabilities, to end interoperability with existing equipment, antenna configurations and payload capabilities.
  3. Shaping regulatory and spectrum pathway: future flight approvals and the allocation, use and coexistence of spectrum with terrestrial networks.

Weighing only 75kg with a 25m wingspan, Zephyr uses solar radiation to power its ascent and descent, as well as persistent flying in the stratosphere. While still in development, in 2025, Zephyr achieved a record 67 days of continuous flight, which included its operation in Australian airspace and successful connectivity payload testing. As a dual-use technology, Zephyr provides connectivity‑on‑demand and strengthens network resilience, while also supporting government and public‑interest missions such as wide‑area situational awareness and high‑resolution mapping to aid response and recovery during natural disasters.

Zephyr’s maturity as a complementary, cost‑effective and flexible asset is highly relevant to Indonesia, where its ability to operate as a stratospheric “tower in the sky” for months at a time can help bridge connectivity gaps across the archipelago, including hard‑to‑reach 3T regions.

The partnership builds on AALTO’s growing focus on the Indonesian market, following its MoU with Mitratel signed in 2024 to explore how Zephyr’s stratospheric capabilities could help address coverage challenges. As a leading digital infrastructure provider, Mitratel is positioned to support the development of the Stratospace ecosystem through resilient and future-ready ground infrastructure. This MoU between AALTO and Mitratel has since been extended for two years, reflecting continued joint work to develop the industrial and commercial pathway for HAPS in Indonesia.

Hughes Boulnois, Chief Executive Officer at AALTO, said: “AALTO is transitioning Zephyr and its technology system into a commercial ready product. Our MoU with Telkomsel reflects how we are scaling Zephyr from world leading flight heritage into service delivery, supported by strong market demand for this capability. Indonesia recognises the unique value Stratospace services can provide in expanding coverage solutions, and we look forward to advancing the technical, regulatory and commercial roadmap toward demonstration flights in 2027 and services from 2028.”

Wong Soon Nam, Chief Strategy & Planning Officer at Telkomsel, added: “Telkomsel supports the Government of Indonesia’s ambition to expand high quality connectivity, including in 3T regions where geography creates deployment challenges. Zephyr is the world-leader in high altitude technology that can complement our existing infrastructure and help reduce connectivity gaps. We are pleased to partner with AALTO as we explore the pathway toward future stratospheric services in Indonesia, quality connectivity, including in 3T regions where geography creates deployment challenges”.

Categories: Press Releases

Tags: , ,