Sceye launch of High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) Sceye
A new platform operating from the atmosphere could provide internet services during emergencies.
Sceye, a U.S. aerospace innovator specializing in High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), is leading this charge. HAPS is designed to provide connectivity and environmental monitoring from the stratosphere – a layer of Earth’s atmosphere.
Sceye has just secured an investment from the global telecommunications giant, SoftBank Corp.
This investment includes SoftBank’s purchase of a pre-commercial HAPS flight in Japan scheduled for 2026.
In a major disaster, such as an earthquake, this system could help restore communications. Furthermore, it will extend internet access to challenging environments, including mountains, distant islands, and other areas where standard terrestrial networks struggle to reach.
“SoftBank brings a wealth of experience in non-terrestrial connectivity and has long championed the stratosphere as the next frontier for solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO and Founder of Sceye.
Powered by solar arrays
Sceye has strategically chosen the stratosphere – between 60,000 and 65,000 feet – as the ideal operational zone.
This unique location overcomes the limitations of the lower atmosphere and space, offering a combination of proximity, sustained presence, and broad coverage for persistent, high-quality services.
As per Sceye’s website, these high-altitude platforms are designed to stay airborne for months to a full year, utilizing the buoyant force of helium.
Interestingly, it can stay in the air for extended periods ranging from months to a full year.
The use of powerful solar arrays and batteries powers the entire system. The solar arrays also charge high-density lithium-sulfur batteries (425Wh/kg) for continuous operation through the night.
The platform’s advanced on-board electronics, including computers and sensors, diligently monitor its status and manage the power systems.
Being five times stronger relative to weight, it can support large payloads.
One of the most interesting aspects of this high-altitude platform is its ability to stay precisely within a designated operational area for extended durations. It can maintain its position even when faced with challenging wind conditions.
This stability is vital for the proactive monitoring and management of wildfires.
Moreover, the system is “1500 times” more gas-tight, UV-resistant, and ozone-resistant. It has completed over 20 test flights.
This partnership strengthens SoftBank’s long-standing belief in HAPS as a transformative infrastructure.
As the world moves towards a 6G era, there’s a growing demand for a telecommunications architecture to support emerging technologies like drones and UAVs.
SoftBank views Sceye’s HAPS as a highly scalable solution that complements its terrestrial networks and satellite constellations.
“Looking ahead to the 6G era, we believe HAPS will become a core infrastructure, and we’re taking the lead in making this a reality,” said Junichi Miyakawa, President & CEO, at SoftBank’s 39th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM).
“The stratospheric-based, wide area telecommunications of HAPS will play a key role in expanding network area coverage to areas that are difficult to reach with existing mobile network infrastructure, and it will also provide a means of restoring communications when large-scale disasters strike,” Miyakawa stated.
The advantages are clear: faster speeds, greater capacity, lower latency, and more flexible deployment than satellite-based communications.
Reportedly, SoftBank is simultaneously developing its own large, heavier-than-air (HTA) type HAPS platform, a fixed-wing aircraft that uses aerodynamic lift. The goal is to use this technology for future commercial services.
MasterCard
