Abu Dhabi-based Space42, using its Mira Aerospace subsidiary, has flown a High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) aircraft over Spain during December 2025. The aircraft, a solar-powered version called ApusNeo18, flew from the Fuerteventura Technology Park in Spain and collected data focused on wildfire prevention and management as part of the ISSEC program, a joint venture […]

Aerial communications specialist Aalto, which is owned by Airbus, says its HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station) is close to flying the technology, having completed long-term tests with its Zephyr high-flying lightweight aircraft. Aalto is not alone in pushing the technology. US-based (in New Mexico) Sceye is also backing HAPS which it describes as a balloon-based […]

To help bridge the digital divide and provide emergency communications during disasters, Japanese investment company SoftBank Corp has been actively conducting research and development for its High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) stratospheric telecommunications business since 2017 as a global pioneer in the field. In 2026, SoftBank plans to launch pre-commercial HAPS services in Japan in […]

Japan has four cellular network operators with three of them controlling some 80 per cent of the market. Rakuten, currently Number 4 in the hierarchy with about 3 per cent market share, is looking to grow its ‘Direct-to-Consumer’ satellite connectivity share thanks to AST SpaceMobile. NTT Docomo, the largest player, does not – as yet […]

AALTO HAPSm an Airbus subsidiary which designs, manufactures and operates the Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), has appointed Hughes Boulnois as CEO. Hughes succeeds Samer Halawi in the role with immediate effect. After conducting an extensive review of AALTO’s market, structures and strategy, Airbus Defence and Space has decided to update the company’s focus […]

PT Dayamitra Telekomunikasi (Mitratel), a digital infrastructure telecommunications company, and AALTO HAPS, which designs, manufactures and operates the stratospheric, solar-powered Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore how to provide commercial HAPS solutions in Indonesia. Combined with Mitratel’s digital infrastructure portfolio that includes more than 38,000 towers […]

A consortium of Japanese businesses led by NTT Docomo and Space Compass, together with Mizuho Bank and the Development Bank of Japan, has committed to invest $100 million (€92.2m) in Airbus subsidiary AALTO, which manufactures and operates the stratospheric, solar-powered Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS). The investment will be made through the Japanese Consortium’s […]

BT is readying a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), the extremely high-flying aircraft for a test over its Adastral Park R&D facility in Suffolk, UK. BT is partnering with Stratospheric Platforms (SPL) and is exploring integrating the HAPS technology with fixed terrestrial networks, and the option of a non-terrestrial 5G as alternative to serving ‘not […]

A High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) – a very high-flying solar-powered unmanned aircraft – has wrapped a demo stratosphere flight delivering 5G connectivity over Rwanda. The exercise was backed by Japanese media conglomerate SoftBank. The aircraft delivered two-way 5G connections for 73 minutes from a height of almost 17 kms. The test included a ZOoom video […]

HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station), sometimes in the shape of a giant balloon or – as in this case – a high-flying unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has caught the eye of Japan’s SoftBank. The objective is to use a HAPS vehicle or balloon to serve broadband to a very wide region below. On October 1st […]